Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan said Sabah’s efforts to restore its constitutional rights, political strength and economic standing depend on greater unity behind a strong and independent Sabah-based party.
Its candidate Samuel Wong pointed to Sarawak as the clearest example of how political cohesion can translate into federal respect and tangible gains.
“Sarawak demonstrates that when a state unites solidly behind one dominant local party, the federal government has no choice but to respect and respond to its demands,” he said.
Sarawak’s ruling coalition, GPS, holds 79 of 82 state seats, with only two held by DAP, and commands 23 of 31 parliamentary seats.
He said the overwhelming mandate reflects a population that knows what they want, what they stand for, and who they rally behind.
He added that Sarawak’s political cohesion has helped it reclaim parts of its autonomy, strengthen its state-owned energy entity Petros, and secure greater authority over upstream and downstream energy operations advantages he says Sabah has yet to achieve.
“This is the model Sabah must emulate if we want to regain our own strength and dignity,” Wong said.
Although linked to Umno, including working with it to toplle the GRS Government in 2021, Wong claims Warisan is the only one that has remained fully independent of peninsular coalitions.
“Warisan has never been controlled by Malaya parties. We have never bowed to external interests,” he added.
He said that as long as Sabahans divide their votes among national coalitions such as Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional, the state will struggle to build the leverage required to advance key issues.
He argued that unity is central to pursuing matters such as oil and gas control, stronger federal representation, and Sabah’s financial entitlements, including the 40 pc revenue share under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
According to Wong, division only benefits external powers, while unity will finally give Sabah the leverage needed to reclaim its political autonomy.
