KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan will be asking for trouble if it seeks to join or form a pact with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, which is being hit by the current mining bribery scandal, says the party vice president Terrence Siambun.
He said GRS leaders from Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) have yet to be cleared in the investigations into alleged mining licences, so it was out of the question for Warisan to consider a pact or join the state's ruling coalition.
"How can Warisan join or even form an election pact with GRS when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has yet to clear the several Gagasan Rakyat assemblymen implicated in the mining scandal?
"Why should Warisan go and look for trouble by forming any kind of alliance with GRS," he said in a statement.
His statement comes after two GRS component parties, Sabah STAR led by Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Youth chief Christopher Mandut, offered Warisan to join GRS.
Appreciating the offer, Siambun said that both invitations reflect Warisan's credibility and competence. However, the offer will not materialise given the mining scandals involving assemblymen from GRS' anchor party, Gagasan Rakyat, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
"There should be no talk about Warisan discussing any electoral pact with GRS, perhaps only and until Gagasan Rakyat assemblymen are cleared," he added.
However, Siambun said Warisan could be open to discussion with GRS components - Sabah STAR and PBS - to create a strong united front in Sabah to protect state rights.
"If Sabah STAR and PBS think that all the local parties are united under GRS, then they should suspend or kick out Gagasan Rakyat or, alternatively, all the local parties can leave PGRS alone in GRS," he said.
Meanwhile, Warisan information chief Datuk Azis Jamman said that Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal's offer to cooperate with local parties had nothing to do with the party's desire to join GRS or cooperate with it.
He said Shafie invited them to cooperate with local parties such as PBS and Sabah STAR and any other local party to strengthen Sabah's base parties ahead of the coming state election and emulate Sarawak.
Furthermore, he said Warisan had doubts and trust issues about Gagasan Rakyat's sincerity. Instead of working together previously, Hajiji decided to make Warisan assemblymen join his party (Gagasan Rakyat) by delaying the anti-hop law.
Azis said that Warisan's main focus was to ensure integrity, good governance, and fight corruption and abuse of power. At the present moment, it would be difficult for their party to work with GRS, which is facing severe integrity issues.
"Warisan remains committed to giving choice to the people of Sabah and ensuring that every collaborative effort is based on integrity, good governance, and the true fight for Sabah's rights.
"We will not compromise with any party that fails to show sincerity and integrity in their leadership," Azis added.
