KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan has held informal talks with Sabah STAR and KDM to form a local party bloc for the next general election, says Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
The Parti Warisan president said discussions were held with Sabah STAR leader Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan and KDM leader Prescilla Peter.
He said among the issues discussed was to ensure local parties contest all 25 Parliament seats in Sabah.
He also said that it was important to have state parties under a single Sabah bloc before looking at forming a Borneo bloc with Sarawak parties.
Shafie rejected working with federal parties in Sabah, citing risks of diluting local priorities regarding Malaysia Agreement 1963 rights, health, education and oil.
He stated alliances should reflect state resource wealth rather than parliamentary seat counts alone.
"Sabah voices and rights must be heard not only at state level but nationally," he said after chairing the party supreme council meeting here on Sunday (Aug 9).
He argued that alliances should be judged by the wealth and resources Sabah and Sarawak bring to Malaysia.
"Don't just look at the number of Parliament seats. The wealth is here in Sabah and Sarawak," he added
Shafie also questioned if the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had resolved basic infrastructure and employment issues after over a decade in power.
"What is important? The needs of the people or the needs of GRS? Sabahans want water, electricity, jobs and business. Has that been done?" Shafie said when asked if Warisan would team up with GRS for the general election.
Shafie also said recent amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 need strict enforcement to effectively combat online abuse and misinformation.
He claimed Warisan was a frequent target, with recent instances including forged letters featuring party letterheads and falsified signatures claiming Warisan had withdrawn from the Federal unity government and another about the release of an Immigration detainee.
He said police reports had been lodged and were awaiting investigations by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), adding that enforcement should not be delayed
On another matter, Shafie said the Parti Warisan will hold its annual general meeting on Oct 30 and 31. Party divisions will hold meetings from Sept 11 to Oct 5, and party branch meetings ongoing until Aug 25.
