PARTI Warisan Sabah is not keen to have Peninsular-based Bersatu to expand its influence to Sabah, said Mohd Shafie Apdal.

The Sabah chief minister said it was best that his party remained focused in Sabah while Bersatu continued its strengthening in Peninsular Malaysia.

“I have already indicated to them what our stand is even before the general election.

“Bersatu listened to me then and it is my hope that they will continue to so now too,” he told reporters after the attending the Parti Warisan Sabah Christmas Open House, today.

The Warisan president said this in response to rumours that Bersatu was in talks with his party to enter Sabah.

This comes following a move by several former Umno members to bring the party chaired by Dr Mahathir Mohamad into the state.

Shafie said Warisan was a Pakatan-friendly party, and it was more important to promote mutual cooperation between the state government and Putrajaya, than having Bersatu in the state.

The CM also urged all Sabahans to reject any form of extremism and religious intolerance.

Shafie also dismissed Tawau PAS’ stand against Christmas and New Year celebrations.

“We don’t need to accept the views of PAS that is trying to erode our unity.

“Sabahans are multiracial and multi-religious and therefore, we must reject their intolerance,” he said.

Tawau PAS had led a group claiming to represent Muslims in the district to issue a memorandum of protest against Christmas and New Year celebrations, and had lodged a police report last December.

The memorandum included Warisan as one of the signatories to the protest, which the party had denied any involvement.

Tawau PAS chief Mohamad Husain has since apologised to Warisan and PKR in Tawau for including them in the memorandum. – January 6, 2019.