Sabah DAP says not mending ties with Warisan anytime soon

A Parti Warisan Sabah flag is pictured in Luyang, Sabah September 14, 2020. — Image by Firdaus Latif

By Julia Chan

Tuesday, 16 Aug 2022 3:38 PM MYT

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 16 — Slighted by Warisan up to now, Sabah DAP mentioned right now it’s going to as an alternative focus on strengthening ties inside Pakatan Harapan within the state earlier than mending fences.

The celebration’s state secretary Ginger Phoong mentioned that it might nonetheless be open to working with its earlier allies however there have been no makes an attempt at reconciliation in the meanwhile.

“There have been a variety of crossfires final yr. However our stand has all the time been clear. We would like a united opposition entrance.

“However any try and work collectively once more should be two-way,” mentioned Phoong, who can also be Luyang assemblyman throughout a press convention right here.

State committee member Chan Foong Hin mentioned the celebration additionally must familiarise itself with new PKR leaders following the appointment of Datuk Sangkar Rasam as the brand new state chief.

“We have to guarantee we’re on pleasant phrases with them, earlier than we make amends with Warisan. One other precedence is Muda,” he mentioned, including that they have been on higher phrases with the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance, than the latter is with Warisan.

“However we critically hope we can reconcile and work collectively for GE15,” he mentioned.

The 2 celebration leaders expressed hope regardless of Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal just lately saying that the celebration would solely be prepared to work with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) relating to Parliamentary seats.

“The query now just isn’t whether or not we need to work with Warisan or not. Shafie has said again and again that he needs to work with PBS.

“So the query just isn’t about us, it’s Warisan who’s pushing DAP away,” mentioned Phoong.

DAP and Warisan in Sabah have been allies within the 2018 election however fell out final yr as Pakatan Harapan started to cooperate with the brand new “backdoor” authorities at a nationwide stage by signing the MoU.

Since then, each events have fired salvos at one another.

Earlier, Phoong and Chan, together with Kepayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang and Likas assemblyman Tan Lee Fatt performed a walkabout in Foh Sang to distribute leaflets containing details about the just lately handed Anti-Hopping Legislation which is now within the technique of being gazetted.

“We really feel like it is a victory of our cooperation with the present authorities, so critics can’t say that it was ineffective. Occasion hopping has been an issue for the state, and we too, are one of many victims of this when two of our assemblymen crossed over to a different celebration,” he mentioned.

He was referring to Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong and Sri Tanjong assemblyman Justin Wong who had joined Warisan earlier this yr.

He mentioned that he hoped the Sabah State Meeting would undertake the anti-hopping legislation instantly to forestall it from recurring.