KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) says it is keen to work with its rival Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) in the spirit of championing the interests of Sabah people.
Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said as a Sabah based party, he knows very well the sentiment, spirit, desire, as well as struggle of PBS, and as such he would like to see a possible Warisan-PBS partnership in the future.
"If you ask me, honestly ... I'd love to work with PBS. It's a local party and it's good to work together. Why not?
"Of course, we have to work in alignment with other national parties because we are in the same country. We have to align and be strengthened. We can't boast we are the only one (party)" he said.
Shafie said he was merely highlighting a possibility as people have been asking him on a likely Warisan-PBS pact while adding it would be up to PBS if they are open to such a new political relationship.
He reiterated that he was only speaking his mind and that he had not been in contact with PBS president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili nor had it discussed within Warisan circles.
"Umno also indicated they want to work with us. Why not, but they can't just tell us what they want without asking what we want (in return). There are those asking for SD (statutory declaration) so they can become a Prime Minister. This is not one-way traffic. They need to know what the Sabah people and the Malaysian people, on the whole, want," said Shafie, stressing that he was committed to championing the interest of the Sabah people.
The former Sabah Chief Minister's response on a Warisan-PBS collaboration came about following a possible Warisan-Umno pact emerging in the 15th General Election.
This was after Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking and Sabah Umno chief Datuk Bung Moktar Radin both remarking that such a collaboration between parties was not impossible during an online forum titled 'Beyond the 2020 Sabah Polls: Sabah Moving Forward'.
"People are talking about it. To me, I have already indicated the need to build up Warisan first, then we can talk about (future partnership), with who we can work.
"I don't think there will be a single party (or coalition) that will lead the government. Not Barisan Nasional, nor Perikatan Nasional, and not Pakatan Harapan. The next election (winners) will be anybody's guess.
"It's important to strengthen our party and we will see who we can work with (for Sabah's interest). It's not about giving positions to satisfy politicians but meeting the needs of the people and building a nation that's long-lasting," opined Shafie.
