Warisan mum about Bersatu’s move
Peninsula party’s entry to Sabah likely to impact political landscape in state
Parti Warisan Sabah is keeping a curious silence even as its ally in the federal government, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, spreads its wings to the state.
Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal is keeping mum, declining to immediately comment on Bersatu chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to enter Sabah.
Shafie was all chatty and smiles as he attended a Chinese New Year open house here hosted by China’s Consul-General Liang Caide on Friday night, hours after Dr Mahathir made the announcement in Kuala Lumpur.
His only cryptic statement to reporters before they could even ask him for his reaction was: “Time will tell.”
Then, he got into his car and left the Hakka Hall in Likas where the event was held.
Clearly, Shafie was not interested in responding to Bersatu’s move that is set to see former Sabah Umno defectors – led by its then chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor – opening the Sabah chapter of Bersatu.
Bersatu is seen as a pre-general election ally of Warisan which, with DAP and PKR, toppled the Sabah Umno-led Barisan Nasional, ending its 24-year hold on the state in the May 9 polls.
In the past few weeks, Shafie has repeatedly urged Bersatu to honour its pre-election “gentlemen’s agreement” to leave the state’s politics to Warisan and not go into Sabah.
So far, the move has been described as a “stab in the back” by DAP’s Luyang assemblyman Phoong Jin Zhe, who accused Bersatu of resurrecting Sabah Umno through political frogs.
The statement is the strongest worded yet so far by a member of the ruling side.
Many are waiting to see how Bersatu’s entry will impact Sabah’s political landscape, with Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili foreseeing a split among the native bumiputra Muslims between Warisan and Bersatu.
Opposition leader and Sabah STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan is expecting Bersatu to play opposition in the state as the ex-Umno assemblymen are still aligned with Gabungan Bersatu Sabah, comprising STAR, PBS and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah.
However, others believe that Warisan and its current partners in the state – DAP, PKR and Upko – will continue running the government, keeping their former Umno rivals and now Bersatu at bay.
Political analyst Rahezzal Shah said it was only logical for Bersatu to enter Sabah as other national parties were already present, adding it was in the right position to take over the vacuum left by Sabah Umno.
“There will definitely be some dissatisfaction or concern among Warisan leaders and members with this latest development.
“Their worries stem from two factors – firstly, that the majority of opposition, specifically from Umno, have indicated that they would join Bersatu instead of Warisan.
“Secondly, growing concern that this is part of a larger strategy to dilute Warisan’ power or shift the power balance,” he said.