KOTA KINABALU: After months of speculation, Barisan Nasional and Parti Warisan seem to be inching closer towards a collaboration in the next Sabah elections against the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government.
Sabah Barisan chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin made an appearance at Warisan’s annual general meeting (AGM) here yesterday, at the invitation of Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Both leaders, however, declined to confirm if a pact was already in place.
Bung Moktar, who is also Sabah Umno chief, played coy when asked if his party would be working with Warisan in the next state polls, saying they were only there as they had accepted Shafie’s invitation.
“There’s nothing wrong with that since Warisan is also part of the Federal Government,” he said.
When pressed if his presence meant there could an official pact between the parties, he said: “None yet, but cooperation is important. There must be cooperation but when, we don’t know.
And he added with a giggle, “Even a husband and his wife must work together, if not, things will not happen.”
Bung Moktar had led a Sabah Umno group that included its secretary Datuk Jafry Arifin to the Warisan AGM.
At press conference later, Shafie said both parties had “somewhat discussed” how they could work together in the interest of Sabah and its people.
“If that (formal partnership) is what is desired by them (Barisan), then there is no reason for us not to (have it).”
Shafie said he had extended invitations to other parties, including Parti KDM led by former Warisan vice-president Datuk Peter Anthony, but they did not turn up at the AGM.
To a question on possible brickbats should Warisan work with a peninsula-based party like Barisan, he said: “We are working for the interest of the Sabah people and the state ... Bung Moktar is from Kinabatangan.
“At the end of the day, any single party in Sabah will have to work with peninsula-based parties as well.”
Sabah last held its state election in September 2020.
