PARTI Warisan Sabah hopes Bersatu keeps its word on not setting up a Sabah chapter, as per the “brotherly pact” forged between the parties in the 14th general election, said Mohd Shafie Apdal.

The Warisan president said Bersatu has issued statements that there is no need for it to set up shop in the state, given that his party is a Pakatan Harapan ally and leading the Sabah administration.

The party’s wish has also been communicated to the top leadership, he added.

“Bumiputera support for the Warisan-PH alliance is strong. The cooperation has seen us win parliamentary and state seats, such as Papar, Putatan, Penampang, Karambunai and Sepanggar in the west coast. We also won big in the east coast,” he told reporters after a meet-the-people session in conjunction with Chinese New Year in Semporna today.

The Sabah chief minister was commenting on Sulaman assemblyman Hajiji Mohd Noor’s statement that Bersatu will set up a state chapter soon.

State PH leaders have been told to ensure this does not happen, said Shafie.

“DAP, representing the Chinese community, and the multiracial PKR are already in the state. We (Warisan) need their cooperation to ensure the welfare of Sabah folk.”

It was reported that Hajiji said he is in talks with Bersatu leaders on bringing the peninsula-based party into Sabah.

The remarks by the independent rep, who led an exodus of assemblymen and MPs from Sabah Umno last December, run counter to Prime Minister and Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s insistence that the party will not set foot in the state. – Bernama, February 7, 2019.