Warisan will not contest in upcoming state polls, says Shafie

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan will not contest in the six state elections that will be held soon, says Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (pic).

The party president said Warisan would support the unity government's candidates in the elections.

"I have informed the leaders of the unity government that we will not be contesting but will play a supporting role," he told reporters after a Hari Raya Aidilfitri gathering by his party's Putatan division on Thursday (May 11).

He said this included the party's decision not to defend the Teratai state seat in Selangor held by Bryan Lai Wai Chong.

Shafie said he had informed Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari about this and made several suggestions regarding the upcoming polls when they spoke.

"I have advised them (Warisan members in the peninsula) to not contest.

"I also told unity government leaders that Warisan will not be asking for any seat, even though at the initial stage there was some consideration about giving Warisan a seat in Kedah," he said.

"Some of our candidates did well in the 15th General Election (GE15) with some garnering up to 4,000 votes," he said, adding that Warisan's strengths in certain seats could help unity government candidates.

"It is not that we cannot contest, but we want to show our sincerity, " he said, adding that Warisan had support but did not have the election machinery.

Warisan contested in Peninsular Malaysia in GE15 but failed to win any seats.