PARTI Warisan Sabah (Warisan) president Mohd Shafie Apdal has described the influx of former Umno members and new members into the party over the past 11 days as a good sign ahead of the Kimanis parliamentary by-election on January 18.

Shafie, who is also Sabah Chief Minister, said their decision to join Warisan showed that they are starting to open their eyes to the direction of the state government in terms of development of Sabah.

“It is possible that in the past, our information did not reach grassroots supporters due to the way we disseminated it, but now they understand from our explanations, aside from seeing the changes brought by the government in just over a year.

“This is a good sign, we are confident that these new members will provide strong support to the party and the government,” he told reporters after a get-together with Sabah Chief Minister programme in Kampung Binsulok, Membakut, near Kimanis, today.

Shafie also wanted the party to meet and get to know all residents in the constituency within the next few days, before the by-election.

“We should not stop reaching out to the people, to continue garnering their support,” he said, adding the opposition had run out of ideas to campaign that they had to resort to personal attacks, and to harp on racial and religious issues.

“There are various slanderous statements (uttered) against the (Warisan) party but we just don’t entertain (them)... just let them be,” he said.

Four days ago, more than 500 Umno members joined Warisan.

The Kimanis by-election will witness straight fight between Warisan candidate Karim Bujang and Mohamad Alamin of Barisan Nasional. – Bernama, January 14, 2020.