Sabah election: Warisan hopes for continued support from Chinese community

 By Olivia Miwil - August 28, 2020 @ 11:23am

Caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal hopes that the state’s Chinese community will demonstrate its continued support for Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) by backing it in the upcoming election. Mohd Shafie meets with leaders of Chinese associations at Hakka hall in Kota Kinabalu. Photo by MALAI ROSMAH TUAH/NSTP

KOTA KINABALU: Caretaker Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal hopes that the state's Chinese community will demonstrate its continued support for Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) by backing it in the upcoming election.

The Warisan chief said that the community had previously expressed its conviction that political stability and clear political policies are crucial for Sabah's businesses to prosper.

"I have met them and they have expressed full support to the government of the day.

"It is not easy for us to restructure and reform policies in such a short time, but they do realise that even when a small issue or system is reformed, it brings benefits," he said after a meeting with leaders of Chinese associations at Hakka hall here, yesterday.

Mohd Shafie said although the Warisan-led government is solidly backed by the ethnic Chinese, it will not rest on its laurels and will continue to reach out to the people.

On the possibility of facing the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat in the election, the incumbent Senallang assemblyman said the political comeback of the former Chief Minister is "nothing unusual."

"I have been there and went against the LDP and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), they are my friends... we are still friends.

"In politics, it is important for Sabahans to know what they want," he added.

Present at the event were state Pakatan Harapan Chief Datuk Christina Liew and Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce president, Datuk Michael Lui Yen Sang.

Earlier, Liew, who is also the caretaker Deputy Chief Minister and state Tourism, Culture and Environment minister, said Mohd Shafie is a leader who listens to people's problems, regardless of their backgrounds.

"Datuk Seri (Mohd Shafie's) decisiveness in requesting Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin to dissolve the Dewan, to return power to the people to decide which government they want to rule Sabah, clearly reveals the leader he is... the choice is yours."

The state assembly was dissolved on May 31 after 13 assemblymen defected from Mohd Shafie's camp to give a simple majority to former Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman to form a new government.