KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan is seeking new members, including grassroots leaders who can shore up support, rather than those who are only in it for promises of candidacy and positions, says its president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (pic).
He said while Warisan continues to accept new members, including leaders of other parties, in its bid to reclaim power, the party would not entertain demands for candidacy and positions.
The Senallang assemblyman said the main purpose is to recruit more leaders and members who can help strengthen the party and secure better grassroots support, even those from other parties.
Shafie also urged for disagreements among party members to be resolved amicably, as it would only bring the party down otherwise.
“We are also listening to what people on the ground tell us, so that we can better manage and arrange candidacy selections and form the right direction for the party to become the next state government,” he told a press conference after receiving applications to join Warisan near here on Friday (Oct 31).
Warisan had previously helmed the state government with Pakatan Harapan partners for 22 months from 2018 to 2020.
Asked about their criteria to finalise candidates, Shafie said winnability as well as acceptance from the people is a must.
Factors such as experience and a professional background are also taken into consideration, though not the main criteria, he said.
To media questions on whether Warisan would join the Gabungan Bersatu Sabah, initiated by Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, which aims to gather all local parties under one roof, he said the focus was to first work with the people.
“He (Kitingan) has his right to form whatever coalition so let him be. But for us, we have worked with many other parties and coalitions in the past, so let us focus on working with the people first,” said Shafie.
He also believes that Sabahans can govern the state better as they know what is needed for the state and its people.
“This does not mean we don’t support the federal government, we support them at the national level, but here, let us manage our own state,” he said, adding that the federal government has a duty to fulfil and honour Sabah’s rights according to the federal constitution.
Earlier, Shafie accepted entry forms from Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah’s Pantai Manis division leaders including its information chief Amri Abu Bakar, Gagasan leaders from Pitas including its former deputy division chief Datuk Harun Ismail and LDP division leaders from Tanjong Kapor including its division chief Datuk Peter Chin.
