Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has revealed that discussions have taken place between Warisan and Sabah Umno regarding a potential collaboration in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election. He confirmed that the discussions involved himself, Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and Sabah Umno Chief Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar, but clarified that no official decision has been made by either party’s supreme council.
Shafie stated, “We must acknowledge that no decision has been reached so far by both the supreme councils of Umno and Warisan regarding the collaboration. However, I have had discussions not only with the Umno president, but also with Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar, expressing hope that such collaboration could materialize.” He made these remarks to reporters after the Sabah-Labuan Ramadan Tour at Desa Tunas Hijau on Saturday.
Regarding the potential collaboration, Shafie mentioned that there was no opposition within the Warisan leadership or at the grassroots level. He expressed confidence in Warisan’s strength in Sabah, pointing to their past success in winning 29 seats and securing a significant portion of the votes in previous elections.
Shafie emphasized that Warisan remained open-minded, allowing its members to attend Umno political events without any restrictions. He encouraged members to participate in Umno events if invited, while also welcoming Umno leaders to Warisan events if they chose to attend.
Reflecting on Sabah’s political history, Shafie noted that past ruling parties like Berjaya and PBS operated independently without forming coalitions. He mentioned that collaboration between Warisan and Umno should not be seen as an insurmountable challenge, calling it a matter of necessity if both parties needed to work together.
Before this development, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor had hinted at the possibility of an early election for Sabah, despite the current term of the state government expiring in October 2025. – Bernama
