KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan’s strategy to partner with the people is to ensure that a local party can win the upcoming Sabah election, says Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Dismissing his political rivals’ claims that single-party rule of Sabah was history, the Warisan president said that if Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Berjaya could do it and remain in power for 10 years each, there is no reason why another single party cannot govern the state.
The former chief minister said even PAS has been able to helm Kelantan on its own, proving that a strong, united party can win by itself.
"We leave it to the people to decide. We will work with the rakyat," he told a press conference here on Tuesday (Oct 14).
The Senallang assemblyman and Semporna MP said if a party is strong and united, it can helm a government and do better than others.
"Give us the power, let us manage (the state) and we will prove to you that we can do better than this current government," he said.
On Monday (Oct 13), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee said no single party would be able to win the state polls because of the pressures and party resources from the peninsula, among other factors.
Shafie said Warisan would choose candidates with discipline and integrity who stood united with the party.
He also hoped the Election Commission (EC) would consider extending postal voting to Sabahans residing in other parts of the country.
However, he hoped there would be no abuse of this facility by, for example, creating phantom voters.
The EC is scheduled to meet on Thursday (Oct 16) to set key dates for the 17th Sabah state election.
