Warisan scrutinises all applications
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has stressed that the party’s leadership will conduct close scrutiny on all applications to join the party.
The applicants must be fighting for the same cause as the party so that the value of what they are championing will meet the needs of the rakyat, he told a press conference held to announce Balung assemblyman Datuk Osman Jamal joining Warisan yesterday.
Shafie was responding to a question as to whether former Umno Sabah leaders have applied or indicated their interest to join Warisan.
“Some have met me and expressed their intention (to join Warisan) but it is not as simple as that.
“We need to scrutinize, we are not arrogant but we need to be sure about their values.
“This is important for Warisan to ensure that what they are fighting for is in line with our struggles and what is needed by the rakyat at the grassroots level,” said the Chief Minister.
On Osman’s decision to join Warisan, Shafie said the former Umno assemblyman had expressed his intention to do so in May last year.
“Today, he openly said he will join Warisan and although it took him almost one year, we welcome him. But this does not mean that we accept just anyone.
“We have to scrutinize them and their struggles because we understand that the rakyat want change and their wish must be respected,” Shafie said.
Osman, he pointed out, is a leader with vast experience in several fields and has the capability to help resolve issues affecting the rakyat not only in Balung but throughout the state.
He said Sabah chief Datuk Christina Liew had been informed about Osman joining Warisan as the latter had been linked to the party earlier.
“With Osman now in Warisan, we, together with PKR, DAP and Upko now have 47 seats in Sabah,” he said.
Warisan now has 29 state elected representatives.
Meanwhile, Osman thanked Shafie for accepting him into Warisan, and affirmed that he had discussed the matter nine months ago at the Istana Negeri.
He said he would be going back to Balung to explain to the constituents his decision to join Warisan.
“Among the contributing factors is the fact that I want to see continued development in Balung, such as infrastructure, utilities and social development,” he said.
Osman clarified that he had been an independent assemblyman since leaving Umno nine months ago.
“Yes I applied to join PKR last year but only on February 24 was I informed by a Sabah PKR leader that my application was approved.
“By that time I had agreed to join Warisan so I told them it was too late,” he said, adding that his status as an independent assemblyman was affirmed by Sabah PKR chief Datuk Christina Liew.
When asked why it took him so long to decide to join Warisan, Osman said he was unable to do so because of a personal reason which could not be revealed.
He is the sixth former Sabah Umno assemblyman to join Warisan, after Datuk Abdul Muis Picho (Sebatik); Datuk Hamisah Samat (Tanjong Batu); Jamawi Jaafar (Kemabong); Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Sukau) and Datuk Musbah Jamil (Tempasuk).