Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan reaffirmed its unwavering political position and that “Sabah must do the same, calmly, firmly, and without apology” as Sarawak in upholding state rights.
Deputy President Datuk Darell Leiking said recent headlines suggesting a shift in the party’s direction were “misleading” and did not truthfully reflect the stand taken by party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
“Warisan’s position has been clear i.e. that Sabah should be administered by Sabah-based parties, free from control by Malaya-based interests,” he said.
He said this stance is not rooted in exclusion or arrogance, but in restoring the original spirit of the Federation of Malaysia as an equal partnership between Sabah, Sarawak, and the Peninsula, founded on mutual respect.
Drawing parallels with Sarawak’s Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Darell clarified that Warisan maintains a clear distinction between state governance and federal cooperation.
“At the state level, leadership must come from local parties with a local mandate. At the federal level, Warisan has no issue working constructively in forming the federal government after a general election – a principled approach reflected in our participation in the current unity government.”
He highlighted Sabah’s longstanding development gaps, erosion of rights and structural challenges due to decades of unequal and overly centralised administration, where national decisions affecting the state were made without Sabah’s meaningful participation.
“For far too long, Sabah has borne the consequences of this,” he noted, adding that Warisan’s stance was neither new nor radical, as Sarawak had already demonstrated leadership in defending state autonomy.
Darrel expressed gratitude to media outlets that reported accurately on the party president’s remarks and Warisan’s position.
“At a time when honest journalism is increasingly sought after around the world, such professionalism plays a vital role in ensuring informed public discourse and democratic accountability,” he said.
However, he voiced disappointment that certain headlines had created confusion rather than understanding, and hoped for future reporting that reflects accuracy, balance, and integrity.
