Presence of Warisan, KDM at Sabah Umno event fuels election cooperation talk

KOTA KINABALU: The presence of Parti Warisan and Parti KDM leaders at an event hosted by Sabah Umno here may be the strongest indication that the parties will ally to take on the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition in the next state election.

Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin officiated at the Madani Village Community programme at the state Umno building on Friday (May 17).

It was attended by Parti KDM president Datuk Peter Anthony and Warisan vice president Datuk Junz Wong as well as several other Warisan assemblymen.

In a press conference later, Bung Moktar played coy when asked if the parties would work together in the coming state polls but noted the current political landscape necessitated an alliance between political parties to win any election.

“Yes, there must be (an alliance),” said the Kinabatangan MP.

“No party can go solo at this time, this is the reality.

“We need to have an alliance with those who we feel can work with us, but we will refine everything first,” he added.

It was reported previously that Warisan and Sabah Umno have discussed potential collaboration for the next Sabah election.

In March, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said talks had taken place between himself, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Bung Moktar but that no official decision had been made by either party.

Sabah Umno, Warisan and KDM were part of a failed political coup against the GRS government led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in January 2023.

To a question on Shafie contending that a single party could win the next state polls, Bung Moktar said that was his personal view and did not represent a decision by Warisan.

Similar to what Shafie previously said on strengthening Warisan, Bung Moktar said he had also consistently emphasised the need to solidify Umno’s presence in the state.

“If we are strong, people will want to work with us.

“But according to the present political climate, including in Sabah, no single party (will win).

“So, that’s why we need a new alliance to stabilise the political situation in Sabah,” Bung Moktar said.