Many Sabahans may not fully grasp that supporting Parti Warisan could unintentionally open the door for Umno’s return to power—a party widely blamed for decades of ineffective governance that deepened the state’s poverty.
With the Sabah legislative assembly dissolved today, the stage is set for the 17th state election, which must be held within the next 60 days.
James Ligunjang, a prominent rights activist and former Petagas assemblyman, cautioned that any alliance between Warisan and Umno would undo Sabah’s recent advancements and overlook the root causes of its economic woes, such as chronic underdevelopment, corruption, and mismanagement.
“In this election, voters essentially face two paths: the GRS-PH coalition or a Warisan-Umno partnership,” he told Jesselton Times.
“I stand firmly with the former and will not risk Sabah’s future by backing the latter. Falling for Warisan’s promises is like entering a realm of illusions.”
Ligunjang highlighted that the GRS-PH alliance has delivered concrete results over the past five years, fostering economic growth and transformation under Chief Minister Hajiji Noor’s guidance.
He pointed out that the coalition has broadened Sabah’s revenue streams with limited federal involvement, allowing for more independent and locally tailored economic strategies.
Under Hajiji’s steady hand, investor trust has been rebuilt, steering the state toward greater prosperity.
“The political stability we’ve maintained under Hajiji’s leadership has enabled effective long-term planning and investments—crucial elements for sustainable development and alleviating poverty,” he added.
Recent buzz surrounds a potential secret agreement between Warisan and Barisan Nasional (BN), often referred to as “Kinabalu Move 2.0,” fueled by reports of a private meeting between their leaders.
Sources from Umno’s Supreme Council indicated that Warisan president Shafie Apdal and BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi might have explored a post-election alliance to govern the state, potentially positioning Umno for the chief minister’s role.
Shafie has maintained that Warisan intends to contest all 73 state assembly seats in the upcoming polls, though he has remained silent on any possible collaborations after the vote.
Meanwhile, Zahid has stated that Umno is open to partnering with any coalition or party, with the sole exception of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah.
Warisan was established in 2016 after Shafie’s contentious exit from Umno, and it secured 21 seats in the 2018 state election.
