WARISAN Sabah leaders should not fall into “racial and religious war of words” with leaders from Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN).

In making the call, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah president Lajim Ukin said Warisan especially its president, Shafie Apdal, should avoid dirty politics and win like a true politician.  

“As a leader of one opposition party to another, Shafie should fight BN through policies. Avoid racial and religious war. 

“Shafie should focus on fighting for the rights of Sabahans,” the Klias state assemblyman said. 

Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah is a member of the United Sabah Alliance (USA), an alliance comprising Sabah opposition parties, established to oust the Barisan Nasional government in Sabah. 

Other members include Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Sabah Star) led by Jeffrey Kitingan, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) led by Yong Teck Lee and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (PPRS) led by Arshad Abdul Mualap. 

Lajim’s advice came following the trading of insults between Warisan and Sabah Umno leaders over each other’s ethnicity and religion.   

Warisan’s secretary Loretto Padua Jr lodged a police report on Valentine’s Day over alleged racial slur made against the party’s president by Foreign Minister Anifah Aman at a Kimanis parliamentary Chinese New year dinner on February 9. 

Warisan also alleged United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) used the “Parti Lanun” remark, an attack towards Shafie’s Bajau heritage to strike resentment among the Kadazan Dusun communities. 

Anifah’s camp responded with two police reports on Tuesday through his political secretary Jihek Basanu and veteran Umno leader Abdul Jalil Abdul Ghani. 

Jihek say Loretto had twisted Anifah’s statement, while Jalil based his report on a video of Warisan vice-president Peter Anthony’s speech in which he allegedly referred to Chief Minister Musa Aman and his brother Anifah as “Pakistan”, a migrant community in Sabah. 

Meanwhile, Lajim said USA is still open to cooperating with other opposition parties, including Warisan and Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 14th general election. 

However, Warisan and Sabah PH have not initiated talks with USA. 

“USA members have decided on 95% of the seat distribution but we are opened to working with other opposition parties. 

“We don’t mind giving away seats as only winnable candidates must be fielded,” said Lajim. – February 22, 2018.