Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan remains strong despite the recent departure of several former leaders, said its President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He said those who left the party were merely a handful of former division chiefs and former office-bearers.
He said he had taken note of the decision by several individuals to leave the party. However, he said none of them was a elected representative chosen by the people.
“What has happened is merely a small chapter in a much longer journey. In politics, every party goes through different phases.
“Those who are truly sincere and committed to the struggle will remain.
“Warisan remains intact and will continue to move forward. The struggle for Sabah will remain our foremost priority,” he said in a statement, Wednesday.
The former Chief Minister was referring to several leaders, including former Warisan Supreme Council member and Kota Belud Warisan Vice-Chief Taib Isai, who recently joined Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah.
Taib was reported as saying that the decision was driven by growing dissatisfaction among grassroots members and concerns that the party had strayed from Sabah’s aspirations.
Shafie said Warisan’s strength had never depended on any individual.
“Our strength lies in ordinary members, grassroots volunteers and the people of Sabah who continue to believe in a clean and principled struggle for this State.
“A political movement becomes stronger when those who are truly committed remain, while those whose loyalty depends on positions, candidacies or personal interests choose to leave.”
