KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's volatile political environment may just see its people voting a single party into power in the coming state election, says Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
Acknowledging that this goes against the current trend for parties to work with others to form a government, the Parti Warisan president said Sabah had proven otherwise.
Shafie said Sabahans have shown that they have no problem with a one-party government.
Parti Berjaya, led by Tan Sri Harris Salleh, governed from 1976 to 1985 before being ousted by PBS led by Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan from 1985 to 1994.
"I admit it is a different environment now ... but it depends on what Sabahans want," he added.
Shafie also said the upcoming Sabah state election could be a "free-for-all" for competing parties.
He also said no decision had been made on a possible partnership between Warisan and Sabah Barisan Nasional-Umno to take on the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
"We must strengthen Warisan first ... we can't work with others (if we are) not certain about our own strengths," he said.
On Pejuang's interest to work with local parties for the Sabah polls, Shafie said this was normal behaviour by political parties from the peninsula come election time.
Without ruling out cooperation with non-local parties, the Senallang assemblyman said it was the time to work with Sabah-based organisations.
"It's better we work with the people and associations of Sabah, because if Sabahans were united, what is the need to work with other parties?," he said.
However, he said Sabah and Sarawak parties would need to work with those from the peninsula for parliamentary elections.
"We can't rule the country but Sabah and Sarawak are going to be a force in Malaysian politics and will decide the direction of the nation.
"If we play it right, it is not only in our interests but will benefit the nation as well," Shafie said.
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