Warisan-led alliance to field winnable, loyal candidates for Sabah polls

The Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan)-led coalition will prioritise candidates with impeccable credentials and loyalty to be fielded in the upcoming state election. - NSTP/MALAI ROSMAH TUAH

KOTA KINABALU: The Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan)-led coalition will prioritise candidates with impeccable credentials and loyalty to be fielded in the upcoming state election.

Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said that while the Warisan- UPKO-PH-Amanah coalition would look at fresh faces and their background as main criteria in being chosen as candidates, their loyalty to the alliance would be given utmost priority.

"We can field anyone with good background, but it will be useless if the candidate jumps after winning the seat.

"Another criteria is to have winnable candidates for seats allocated to defeat Barisan Nasional (candidates)," he said, adding that there was even a possibility for Members of Parliament to be roped into contest for the 73 state seats which are up for grabs in the state election.

      Shafie was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting on the seats allocation with Warisan leaders and its allies.

Present were Sabah PKR chief Datuk Christina Liew, state DAP chief Datuk Frankie Poon, Upko chief Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, and Amanah Sabah chief Lahirul Latigu.

Shafie, who was also Chief Minister, announced the dissolution of state assembly on July 30 following defection of 10 Warisan assemblymen, as well as one each from DAP, PKR and UPKO who had pledged their support to former Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman.

Musa, the outgoing sole UMNO assemblyman, claimed to have garnered a simple majority of 33 elected representatives pledging support towards him to be the new Chief Minister.

Shafie said while Pakatan Harapan and UPKO have their own strength and had been present in the state for a long period, however the new alliance with Amanah would mean the diverse political parties would need to support and work together during the state election.

"But the priority would be for local based parties as we have heard that the sentiment from the grassroots level is more to local parties.

"We expect to finalise the (candidate) list by next week", he said.

Shafie also claimed that he resorted to dissolving the state assembly due to pressure from the federal government.

He said the political instability had disrupted the governing process in the state government and incoming investment opportunities.

"As a Chief Minister, I have the right to advise Yang diPertua Negeri (Tun Juhar Mahiruddin) to dissolve (the state assembly).

"The Election Commission has also been informed of the process."