KOTA KINABALU: The presence of Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal at the Keningau Kaamatan festival officiated by Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has fuelled speculation of a possible political pact between both parties.
The two leaders were seen chatting in the VIP row during the event, and Shafie also shared the stage with Kitingan for the highlight of the celebrations—cutting padi stalks on Sunday (May 17)—in widely shared social media pictures.
Neither leader has publicly commented on the possibility of the two parties working together formally or informally in the coming general election.
In a Facebook post, Shafie said Kitingan had invited him to join the festivities in Keningau.
“Thank you Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan for the invitation to the Kaamatan celebration in Keningau today (May 17). Kaamatan has always been a space for us to gather, meet old friends and celebrate the culture and traditions that unite the people of Sabah regardless of background. It was a truly warm and festive atmosphere. Kotobian Tadau Tagayo Do Kaamatan,” he said.
Aides to Kitingan said Shafie was invited to the Kaamatan event as part of a non‑political cultural celebration. They declined to comment on speculation about the two local parties working on a political understanding for the coming election.
Warisan remains in the opposition at the state level, while Kitingan pulled Sabah STAR out of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition days before nominations for the Nov 29 Sabah state election last year, choosing to contest the polls alone.
Warisan emerged as the largest single party, winning 25 of the 73 state seats, while the five‑party GRS led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor secured 29 seats and managed to form a coalition government with Sabah Barisan Nasional, Upko and independents to retain power for a second term.
Sabah STAR won two interior seats—Tambunan and Bingkor in Keningau—but lost four others it previously held.
Kitingan, who is both Keningau MP and Bingkor assemblyman, has maintained a non‑committal or mixed stance on Sabah STAR’s support for GRS, though he has been appointed chairman of a state agency and his party's assemblyman became an assistant minister.
As speculation swirled about Warisan–Sabah STAR ties, Hajiji’s Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah special general meeting in Kota Kinabalu saw the party receive the membership of former Keningau Warisan division chief and former Liawan assemblyman Rasinin Koutis, along with his supporters.
