WARISAN grassroots’ worst fears have come true with the entry of peninsula-based Bersatu into Sabah, which has rocked the existing partnership between the state ruling parties.

Grassroots members who did not want to be named told The Malaysian Insight said many of them felt “furious” at the decision of the top leadership of Pakatan Harapan.

They are also angry with Bersatu chairman Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for breaking his promise not to start a state chapter in Sabah.

“The move could see Warisan pushed to re-evaluate its collaboration with Pakatan Harapan if things go out of hand, while Bersatu’s entry could be seen as an attempt to increase the number of its lawmakers,” a source from Sepanggar Warisan said.

The Sabah government is run by a pact formed between Warisan, United Pasok Momogun KadazanDusun Murut Organisation (Upko) and Sabah PH, which had not included Bersatu until now.

Dr Mahathir yesterday announced the party would set up a chapter in Sabah.

He said it was not meant to challenge the Warisan-led government under Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal, but to strengthen it.

Sabah Bersatu is to target the batch of lawmakers formerly with Sabah Umno, who quit the party last year to become independents. They include five MPs and eight state assemblymen who were led in an exodus by former Sabah Umno chief Hajiji Mohd Noor.

Hajiji, the Sulaman assemblyman, has already pledged allegiance to the state’s opposition bloc, Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS), which comprises Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS). 

GBS has nine assemblymen.

With Bersatu’s entry, the party would immediately have eight representatives in the Sabah legislative assembly and five more MPs from the state.

Warisan sources said they fear Sabah Bersatu could influence other PH partners in the state, namely PKR (three assemblymen) and DAP (seven), to combine forces with GBS and form a stronger bloc with a total of 27 assemblymen. 

Warisan, meanwhile, holds 30 seats in the state assembly and its partner Upko, five.

“Despite Warisan still having the largest majority, the fear now is that Bersatu is a popular party and as we all know, Sabah has many politicians who love to jump parties and crossover,” Warisan sources said.

“They are also those in Warisan we fear whose reps can be easily influenced by Dr Mahathir, given the party’s strength and position now in PH.”

Michael Johnny, a Warisan supporter, said the situation reminded him of 1990 when Umno first entered Sabah, and 1994 when Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) which won the state elections then saw many defections to Umno, leading Barisan Nasional to form the state government.

Johnny blamed Dr Mahathir for these episodes.

“This was how the PBS government collapsed after the 1994 polls and we all know that Dr Mahathir was the mastermind. 

“If he was the mastermind then, he could still do it now with Warisan,” he said. 

He said Warisan’s only hope of staying in power was to gain the support of party leaders who champion the Malaysia Agreement 1963 to get Sabah reinstated as an equal partner of the Malaysian federation.

“This will put to test the Sabah leaders who constantly talk about MA63 for political gain. They will choose to ally with Warisan if they are serious or throw it all out by joining Bersatu,” he said. 

It is learnt the Warisan grassroots are expecting their president, Shafie, to call for a rally to protest Bersatu’s arrival.

Sources say Warisan leaders are meeting this weekend, either in Tawau or Kudat, to discuss the latest development. – February 16, 2019.