KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan has no issues discussing a potential political pact with Sabah STAR even though it is aligned with the state's ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), its president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said.
He said Warisan is open to working with Sabah-based parties to unite the people and strengthen the state's voice.
The discussions and cooperation with Sabah STAR led by Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan and Parti KDM led by Priscella Peter are part of efforts to bring people and parties together under a common platform to give the state a united voice.
Shafie, who was speaking to reporters at Warisan's Mooncake Festival celebration in Luyang on Saturday (Sept 19) night, was responding to a question about whether STAR Sabah's continued support for GRS would affect cooperation among the three parties.
Shafie said political support for a government does not necessarily prevent parties from working together.
He pointed out that Warisan also supports the Unity Govt in Kuala Lumpur, but maintains that Sabah should be governed by local parties.
Shafie, Kitingan and Priscella have been seen together at public functions and are reportedly in discussions for a political pact or alignment for the coming general election.
"I have worked with Peninsular-based parties before, having been in Umno and working with various coalitions," he said. "If I could work with parties from Kuala Lumpur, why can't I work with a fellow Sabahan?"
He asked whether there was anything wrong with uniting Sabahan leaders like Kitingan under one roof.
On whether he was looking at a broader local coalition, Shafie kept options open but said it was important to unite the people.
In his speech at the festival, he said Warisan was committed to rejecting racial and religious extremism, as such politics was incompatible with Sabah's multi-ethnic and religious people.
He said that in any collaboration with national parties, they must accept Warisan's stand of non-tolerance to political extremism.
"We are determined to eliminate racial and religious extremism from Sabah," he said, adding that in his recent conversation with Kitingan in Keningau, he emphasised the urgency of unity.
