Warisan open to talks with Parti Cinta Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: Multiracial Parti Warisan Sabah remains open to talks with Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) which unilaterally pulled out from seat negotiations and teamed up with Parti Kerjasama Anak Sabah to open a third Opposition front.
Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said he would leave it to PCS president Datuk Wilfred Bumburing to decide whether he wanted to continue talks or go on his own way.
“There was no engagement, no marriage so how can we divorce now?” Shafie told reporters after a gathering in Sepanggar on Sunday.
He was responding to the move by non-Muslim bumiputra-based PCS to forge an alliance with Anak Sabah led by Datuk Henrynus Amin on Friday.
They plan to contest 22 to 25 Kadazandusun, Murut, Rungus and mixed state seats.
Shafie denied he offered PCS six seats in the planned seat arrangement between Warisan, Sabah DAP and Sabah PKR.
“I do not know how he got that number of seats. I spoke to Bumburing about working together to fight Barisan Nasional and he agreed on the need for cooperation,” said Shafie.
Surprised by PCS’ move, Shafie said they were still in discussion and there was no agreement reached as yet for the number of seats to contest.
Shafie said no single race-based party could win Sabah and that was why Warisan took the multiracial platform to ensure all races could be united to take on Barisan.
“Warisan has a mix of Muslim bumiputras, non-Muslim bumiputras and Chinese leaders who need to be accommodated to contest the seats.
“What am I to do with Darell Leiking, my deputy, and Peter Anthony, my vice-president, who are also Kadazandusun and Murut leaders?” he asked in questioning PCS’ push for the right to contest all non-Muslim bumiputra seats.
“What is important is to change Barisan and Umno so as the state could be ruled by local parties,” he said.