DISCUSSIONS among Sabah’s opposition parties have hit a snag, following disagreements over the distribution of rural seats.

Parti Warisan Sabah president Mohd Shafie Apdal said the state DAP sought to contest such seats, to which Warisan had laid claim.

“I can work with DAP. But, they have to cooperate with us and not ask for everything, including seats in the interior divisions.

“We have to think carefully, as the most important thing for us (in the opposition) is to overthrow the Barisan Nasional government,” he told a crowd of 2,000 people at Warisan’s Bicara Bersama Pemimpin event in Tuaran today.

There has been talk that DAP is a bone of contention for Pakatan Harapan, Warisan and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), which are working on an electoral pact in the run-up to the 14th general election.

The state DAP holds the highest number of urban and Chinese-majority seats, namely Sandakan, Kota Kinabalu, Sri Tanjong and Kepayan, following GE13.

It is spreading its influence in rural areas, especially among indigenous natives, through its Impian Sabah campaign, and has recruited Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia secretariat director Jannie Lasimbang, who is now the state DAP’s Wanita chief.

The absence of state DAP members and leaders at many Warisan and PCS events suggests that it is at odds with the local parties, led by Shafie and Wilfred Bumburing, respectively.

Only state PKR members and chairman Christina Liew have been spotted at events held by the two local parties.

Warisan and PCS have returned the favour, with members and leaders having been seen at PH events.

Without naming the rural seats involved, Shafie gave an assurance that “they (DAP) will still be around” with the opposition.

He also reiterated his stand that he would not join the United Sabah Alliance (USA) pact, saying he was very familiar with its leaders.

USA comprises Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, led by Dr Jeffrey Kitingan; Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, led by Lajim Ukin; Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), led by Yong Teck Lee; and, Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah, led by Datu Mohd Arshad Abdul Mualap.

“I was in Umno before. I recall that during the Batu Sapi by-election, I was in the meeting room with Prime Minister Najib Razak and Chief Minister Musa Aman,” said Shafie.

“Najib asked for our opinion on BN contender Linda Tsen and SAPP president Yong, and Musa said it was easy to ‘fix’ Yong.”

The by-election was held following the death of Parti Bersatu Sabah’s Edward Chong in 2010.

Tsen, who is the wife of Chong, beat Ansari Abdullah, formerly of PKR, and Yong in the polls. – January 14, 2018.