Shafie: Warisan wants real cooperation, not just to prop up a particular leader

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan has no problems cooperating with other parties in Sabah in the coming general election, as long as the people’s rights are prioritised.

Party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal also said that this cooperation must have a clear direction and should not simply be to prop up a particular leader.

He said any understanding among parties has to be clearly worked out.

“We cannot just sit (together) but we have to see the direction in which the cooperation leads, whether it is for the benefit of the people of Sabah, and not to a party or party leadership.

“We have to outline the real struggle for cooperation,” he told reporters after a breaking of fast event at Benoni in Papar, about 60km from here, on Sunday (April 24).

Any collaboration should ensure that Sabah becomes a significant contributor to Malaysia’s economy, prosperity and national security, he added.

He said it was important for any political cooperation to preserve and strengthen Sabah’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious unity where people of various races can sit, talk and drink together.

“Even though the drinks are different, we can sit down together as citizens,” he said, adding that these bonds and the spirit behind them should be adopted nationwide.

“This is what we hope. I am very worried about cooperation with many parties. If one party decides to press the button (and pull out of the deal), the whole arrangement falls apart,” he said.

There has been considerable talk recently about Pakatan Harapan’s “big tent” approach to unite various parties to go up against Barisan Nasional in the 15th General Election (GE15).

However, the coalition’s proposal has led to some internal disagreement over which parties to bring under the tent, especially those involved in the February 2020 Sheraton Move that led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.