Warisan won't go it alone at Sabah polls, says Shafie

Warisan will not face the next Sabah election alone and is now evaluating suitable parties for the formation of a strong partnership, says its president Shafie Apdal.

The Semporna MP said Warisan was conducting a detailed assessment to ensure the party partners to be chosen will able to lead the same struggle for the people of Sabah and that the cooperation can last for a long time.

"It is true that some parties have been identified including Umno at the Sabah state level, but we have not decided anything yet (for cooperation) at this time, there are also many... local parties (for cooperation) which we will announce when the time comes.

"With Pakatan Harapan (PH), we already have (cooperation) at the national level together in the unity government. In fact, I was one of the first to support Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister," he said at a press conference in Putatan last night.

At the 15th general election last year, Warisan which contested alone won three parliamentary seats out of a total of 52 contested throughout the country. 

The 16th Sabah state election in 2020 saw Warisan, which collaborated with PH, winning 32 seats in the Sabah state assembly out of a total of 73.

The term of the current state government will end in 2025.

Shafie said what was important now was for Warisan to strengthen the party before taking the next step to establish cooperation with other parties.

He said Warisan would also prepare to face the Sabah election, regardless of whether polls are held this year or next.