DAP, PKR have no chance to topple Sabah BN, says Shafie

(The Star) – DAP and PKR, which are national-based parties, do not have the strength to topple the Barisan Nasional-led Sabah government, said Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

The Parti Warisan Sabah president said both parties would be able to win some seats but would not be able bring down Sabah Barisan.

“Even if DAP contests 100 times, it cannot win the state government. The same with PKR,” he said to a crowd in Sabah’s south-western Menumbok, about 150km from here Sunday (Jan 21).

He said Warisan was best positioned to form the next state government as it was a local-based opposition party that promotes the unifying spirit for Sabahans, something which national-based opposition parties are unable to do.

The former Umno vice-president and federal minister said that Warisan was agreeable to work with Pakatan Harapan parties but this has to be worked out in a detailed manner.

“I have told them (Pakatan leaders) that we are not contesting in Peninsula Malaysia and they should leave Sabah to Warisan,” he said, adding that Pakatan has a good chance in the peninsular and Warisan would support their efforts without any formal pact.

In the 2013 election, the defunct Pakatan Rakyat comprising PKR and DAP scored its biggest inroads in Sabah by winning 11 of the 60 state and three of the 25 parliamentary seats.

However, a spate of defections left them with three assemblymen and two MPs.