Warisan in talks with STAR, KDM on GE16 pact

Warisan, along with two other Sabah-based parties, STAR and KDM, are currently discussing the possibility of a pact for the upcoming general election (GE16). Shafie Apdal, president of Warisan, mentioned that no agreement has been finalized yet, but talks involving the leaders of all three parties have been ongoing. The discussions are being held in Sandakan, Sabah.

At present, Warisan holds three parliamentary seats in Sabah, while STAR and KDM each hold one seat. Prior to the 2022 general election, Warisan secured 25 seats in Sabah, whereas STAR and KDM each won one seat. The Barisan Nasional party holds seven parliamentary seats in Sabah, followed by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Pakatan Harapan, each with five seats, and Perikatan Nasional with one seat.

Despite a decline in performance during the 2022 general election, Warisan won 25 seats during the Sabah state election held in November of the same year. STAR won two seats, and KDM secured one seat. Apdal, a former chief minister, highlighted the need for Sabah to have a stronger voice in the Dewan Rakyat, suggesting that Sabah-based parties should strive to maintain the state's 25 parliamentary seats under local control.

He questioned the necessity for peninsula-based parties to hold parliamentary seats in Sabah, given the 160-plus parliamentary seats allocated to the Peninsula. Apdal emphasized that any GE16 pact would aim to safeguard Sabah's rights and interests.