Shafie Apdal to take over Sabah-based party

Shafie with Leiking (right) and Jaujan (left) at the RoS in Putrajaya

PUTRAJAYA: Former Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (pix) wants to take over a Sabah-based political party for a platform to challenge Barisan Nasional in the 14^th General Election.

The Semporna MP with Penampang MP Darrell Leikeng of PKR and Sulabayan assemblyman Datuk Jaujan Sambakong, who quit Umno, met the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Thursday.

They discussed the takeover of the Sabah-based party and to change its name and logo.

Shafie, however, declined to reveal which party they were taking over and its proposed new name.

“We will make an announcement later, after we receive the approval from RoS.

“We expect this to be a straightforward process, compared to setting up a brand new party,” Shafie told reporters at the RoS lobby.

Shafie said he decided to head a new party rather than join former Umno leaders Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who registered Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Pribumi) earlier this month.

“Pribumi is national-based. Our party is more Sabah-based. I'm still the Semporna MP, and I intend to defend my seat,” he said.

When asked if his party will join opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan, Shafie was non-committal.

“We are open to teaming up with all parties, if we share the same mission, which is to change the ruling government,” he said.

In 2013, the RoS approved 11 new parties in Sabah.