KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal is staying neutral in the party's upcoming leadership elections, leaving delegates to decide who should lead alongside him.
Shafie said he had made it clear to the party's supreme council that he would not endorse any candidate in the elections, which will be held during Warisan's 10th annual general meeting (AGM) in Sandakan this weekend.
"I think we leave it to the delegates," he told reporters at a press conference here on Wednesday (Oct 21).
"I have only one vote, you know. But that is a bit secret. I am not going to tell who I am going to vote," he said.
Eight candidates are vying for three vice-president positions, including incumbents Datuk Dr Jaujan Sambakong, Datuk Junz Wong and Terrence Siambun.
The other contenders are former Sepanggar MP Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman, Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis, Darau assemblyman Azhar Matussin, Kapayan assemblyman Chin Tek Ming and Warisan Kota Belud deputy chairman Charles Ebbie.
Another 39 candidates are contesting 20 supreme council seats for the 2026-2029 term.
Shafie said delegates must choose their leaders carefully, as the party needed a strong leadership team to advance Sabah's interests and prepare for the next general election.
Shafie said the leadership elections came at a crucial time, with the 16th General Election (GE16) potentially taking place sooner than expected.
"It could be happening either this year or next year," he said, pointing to the substantial allocation for the Election Commission under Budget 2027.
He also reminded candidates that leadership required more than maintaining a presence on social media.
"Do your part. Reach out," he said.
He urged them to engage directly with grassroots members instead of relying solely on TikTok, WhatsApp and other platforms to gain support.
Referring to Warisan's performance in the last Sabah state election, Shafie said the party had secured 25 seats despite contesting independently, reflecting the support it had received from voters.
"It could be happening either this year or next year," he said, citing the RM1.1bil allocation for the Election Commission under Budget 2027 as an indication that the general election could be held sooner than expected.
He said the challenge now was to maintain that confidence and build a leadership capable of meeting public expectations.
Meanwhile, Shafie and his deputy, Datuk Darell Leiking, have retained their respective positions unopposed.
Elections for the Wanita and Wirawati wings will be held at Yu Yuan Secondary School Hall on Saturday (Oct 24), while Mohd Khairuddin Daud has secured the Wira chief post unopposed.
The main AGM and central leadership elections will take place at Dewan Hakka on Sunday (Oct 25), marking the first time the party's annual gathering is being held in Sandakan.
