KOTA KINABALU: Opposition Parti Warisan vows to retake all 11 seats it lost to defectors to regain power in the state election, says its president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Shafie said that party supporters and the constituencies friendly to Warisan have backed the party to retake the seats.
"Every area that we went to, they have given assurance. They tell us 'ini kali kami mau ambil balik. Kami yang mengundi dorang ini (This time we want to take the seat back. we were the ones who voted for them)," Shafie told reporters after opening new party branches on Sunday (Feb 23) in Kinarut about 40km from here.
However, Shafie said the party still need to work hard to win back the seats lost when former party members left the party when they won in the previous elections.
The 11 assemblymen left Warisan to join parties linked to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), form their own party or join Sabah Umno.
They were Datuk Mohammad Mohamarin (Banggi), Datuk Ben Chong Chen Bin (Tanjong Kapor), Norazlinah Arif (Kunak), George Hiew Vun Zin (Karamunting), Datuk Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari (Petagas), Datuk Rina Jainal (Kukusan), Hassan A. Gani Pg. Amir (Sebatik), Datuk Juil Nuatim (Limbahau), Datuk Peter Anthony (Melalap) and Datuk Mohammadin Ketapi (Segama) and Datuk Yusof Yacob (Sindumin)
Shafie added that Warisan was prepared for a state election to be held any time within the next six months.
