KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan has confirmed its decision to contest the upcoming 17th Sabah state election solo, dismissing any rumours of alliances or political deals with other parties.
Warisan secretary-general Datuk Loretto Padua Jr said the party would contest under its own logo and has no plans to join any political coalition.
"Rumours that Warisan is joining Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) or making backdoor deals are completely false. These are lies spread on social media to confuse and mislead the public," he said on Tuesday (May 20).
He added that Warisan's only alliance is with the people of Sabah and emphasised the party's commitment to fighting for Sabahans' rights and future.
"We will not be part of ongoing political games. Our focus is on issues like the rising cost of living, water and electricity disruptions, job opportunities, and fair control over our resources," he said.
Loretto said that he is disappointed that the office of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah (TYT) had been dragged into recent political speculation.
"The TYT is above politics and must be respected. Don’t use the TYT for political gain," he stressed.
He was referring to a viral article alleging that Warisan president Datuk Shafie Apdal intended to pay a courtesy call on Sabah’s Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Musa Aman.
The article claimed the meeting signalled a possible alliance between opposition party Warisan and GRS, fuelling speculation of a major political shift ahead of the state election, one that reportedly unsettled Barisan Nasional and its partner, Pakatan Harapan.
However, the purported courtesy call never took place.
He urged the people of Sabah to stay focused and not be misled by political distractions.
"The coming election is about choosing leaders who truly care about Sabah, not those who engage in political games," he said.
Loretto said that Warisan has consistently remained the sole opposition party in Sabah and believes forming coalitions is not the solution.
"The way forward is a firm, people-based movement that puts Sabah first. We will continue to work with the people, not political elites," he said.
