WARISAN’S expansion plan to the peninsula is an effort by its president, Mohd Shafie Apdal, to compete with PKR President Anwar Ibrahim, said analysts.

The goals are not just to take over as opposition leader but as prime minister candidate for the next general election as well.

Ilham Centre’s Hisommudin Bakar said Shafie’s statement that Warisan wants to represent some 300,000 Sabahans working in the peninsula was just rhetorical.

“It is just an excuse, to distract from a bigger agenda. It’s not a strong argument, as Sabah voters return to their state to vote in elections.

“Warisan wants to go to the peninsula as an alternative to Pejuang, which has not yet been confirmed by the Registrar of Societies.

“Warisan may want to get the support of Pejuang and (its founder) Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s votes. The move is not only in preparation to be opposition leader but to be the prime ministerial candidate,” the think-tank and pollster’s executive director told The Malaysian Insight.

Political analyst Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the signs are there that Shafie would make a bid for both positions.

“When Shafie criticised the Pakatan Harapan leadership for failing to have a direction, he is indirectly promoting himself as one who can fit the role,” said the Universiti Malaya associate professor, referring to remarks last Saturday at a press conference at a party event.

Shafie did not name specific people but said all leaders in PH had to have a clear direction to prepare for the next elections. Doing things the same way, he said, will not yield any result.

However, Awang Azman said the Warisan leadership hadn’t proven itself, even in the 26 months leading Sabah and despite its popular campaign in the state elections in late September. 

“The Warisan-led state government collapsed, Shafie lost the chief minister’s post and many of their seats fell to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Barisan Nasional (BN),” said Awang Azman.

Shafie lost control of the state government in July after former chief minister Musa Aman from Umno said he had the support of 33 assemblymen to take over.

The Warisan president sought the dissolution of the state assembly, leading to the September 26 elections, which Warisan lost.

Tough road in peninsula

Shafie was at one time within close shot of becoming prime minister candidate. Around the middle of this year, there were discussions among the PH parties about Anwar’s viability as prime minister candidate and Shafie was proposed as an alternative.

DAP, Amanah and Dr Mahathir supported the bid.

This fizzled out after PKR revolted, and Anwar went on to declare he had the numbers to form a new government on September 23, days before the Sabah elections.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Dr Mazlan Ali said Warisan will find it difficult to prove its significance beyond Sabah.

“Its identity and struggles are to defend the rights of Sabahans. When it sets up in the peninsula, what kind of struggle does Warisan want to introduce?”

This lends credence to the likelier motive that Shafie wants to displace Anwar.

Warisan MPs were conspicuously absent during the committee stage debate of Budget 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat and divisional voting, which do not inspire confidence that the party will represent the people’s interests in Parliament.

“Their absence also raises suspicions among political leaders in the peninsula,” said Awang Azman.

“Their absence during the committee level debate of ministries’ budgets is seen as political in nature, and a sign that they do not even want to support their allies PH, even though they are also in the opposition.

“Politicians in the peninsula might become more careful about accepting Warisan, which has no record of achievements in the peninsula.”

To gain genuine support in the peninsula, Shafie would also have to focus on voters from other backgrounds and not be Sabah-centric, Awang Azman added.

In the 14th general election in 2018, Warisan, which allied with PH, succeeded in forming the Sabah government.

In September, Warisan won 29 seats against GRS’ 38. GRS comprises Perikatan Nasional, BN and Parti Bersatu Sabah. Warisan’s allies in the election, PKR, won two seats and Upko 1 more and an independent won one each.

At the federal level, Warisan has eight seats out of 222. Another seat, Batu Sapi, is vacant following the death of its incumbent, Liew Vui Keong. – December 15, 2020.