Petrus Conrad Mojuntin
PENAMPANG: Parti Warisan’s claim of being a truly local Sabah party is being questioned after it expanded into Peninsular Malaysia four years ago.
Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) Moyog Vice Chief Petrus Conrad Mojuntin said Warisan can no longer portray itself as Sabah-based when it has openly established divisions in Johor, Selangor, and other Peninsular states.
“It is Warisan themselves who trumpeted that they are a genuine local party fighting for Sabah rights. But how can that be when they expanded to Johor, Selangor and other states in the Peninsula?” he said in a statement today.
National media reported that Warisan began setting up branches in the Peninsula in 2020, with its Peninsular chapter officially launched on Dec 17, 2021, in Kuala Lumpur, attended by party president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
The party, however, failed to win any of the 25 or 26 seats it contested in Peninsular Malaysia during the 2022 general election and performed poorly in Sabah, retaining only three of eight seats won in the previous election. Deputy President Datuk Darell Leiking and Information Chief Datuk Azis Jamman were among the high-profile losses in Penampang and Sepanggar, respectively.
The expansion drew criticism from former party leaders, who said West Malaysians questioned Warisan’s presence when Sabah’s problems remained unresolved. Former Warisan Women’s Chief Datuk Norazlinah Arif said the move contradicted Warisan’s ‘Sabah First’ narrative.
“Sabah lacked proper governance during Shafie’s time as Chief Minister from 2018 to 2020, yet he had national ambitions. His focus was on Putrajaya, not leading Sabah to greater heights. His personal ambitions go far beyond the state’s borders,” said Norazlinah, now incumbent Kunak Assemblywoman.
Former Supreme Council member Mohammad Mohamarin said Warisan’s Peninsular foray caused internal discomfort, citing former Vice-President Datuk Peter Anthony’s resignation days after the expansion as evidence of discord over strategy.
“Warisan used to promote itself as a local party that championed the people’s cause, but they don’t anymore. It is also unlikely to dominate Sabah politics in the future,” said Mohammad, incumbent Banggi Assemblyman who left the party two years ago.
Petrus said the episode contrasts with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), whose Chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor remains focused on Sabah, with all component parties rooted in the state.
“If you are truly a local-based party, there is no need to expand all the way to the Peninsula. GRS will never do that because Hajiji’s focus is purely on Sabah,” he said.
He added that voters should reconsider Warisan’s claim of being a purely Sabah party, given its track record and ambitions beyond the state.
