Warisan pact's 26-seat bid faces test on the ground, say analysts

Kota Kinabalu - Parti Warisan's strategy for the upcoming general election could potentially expand its electoral reach, yet its success hinges on whether voters back the alliance between Warisan, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star). The party, headed by president and former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, intends to field candidates in all 26 parliamentary seats of Sabah and Labuan alongside KDM and Star.

Universiti Teknologi Mara political analyst Tony Paridi Bagang sees this as a strategic effort to unify local parties into a more formidable electoral bloc. Bagang asserts that the Warisan-KDM-Star pact is poised to pose a robust challenge in the general election, particularly in Kadazandusun Murut constituencies where Warisan has faltered and where Star and KDM boast grassroots support.

Bagang tells the NST that if the pact manages to secure more seats than it currently holds, it could emerge as a crucial player in forming the next federal government, especially if no coalition garners a clear majority. However, the analyst warns that the pact's success will depend on the willingness of supporters of the three parties to vote for each other's candidates.

Political analyst Associate Professor Dr Lee Kuok Tiung from Universiti Malaysia Sabah believes that the partnership with KDM and Star could aid Warisan in overcoming some of its shortcomings in Kadazandusun Murut-majority seats. Tiung acknowledges that while Warisan has expanded, other parties, particularly Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, have also grown stronger, leading to intense competition.

Another crucial element to consider is the divergence in voting patterns for state and parliamentary seats. In last year's 17th Sabah state election, Warisan, which ran independently, claimed 25 of the 73 state seats. KDM emerged victorious in Paginatan, while Star secured Tambunan and Bingkor. Warisan currently holds three parliamentary seats - Semporna, Kota Belud, and Lahad Datu. KDM holds Kota Marudu, and Star holds Keningau.