Warisan reiterates consistent stance, dismisses ‘misleading’ headlines

KOTA KINABALU (Dec 21): Parti Warisan has reiterated that its political stance remains consistent, dismissing recent headlines suggesting a shift in the party’s position as “misleading”.

Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking said narratives claiming a change in direction did not accurately reflect the stand taken by party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

“Recent headlines and narratives suggesting a shift in Warisan’s position are misleading and do not truthfully reflect the stance taken by our president,” he said in a statement.

Darell stressed that Warisan has been clear before, during, and after the recent Sabah state election that Sabah should be administered by Sabah-based political parties, free from control by Malaya-based interests.

“Let me state this clearly. Warisan’s position has been consistent before, during, and after the recent Sabah state election. We have been explicit that Sabah must be administered by Sabah-based political parties that are not controlled by Malaya-based interests,” he said.

He added that the party’s position was not rooted in exclusion or arrogance, but in restoring the original spirit of the Federation of Malaysia as a partnership between Sabah, Sarawak and the Peninsula, founded on equality and mutual respect.

Drawing parallels with Sarawak’s Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Darell said 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,” he said, noting that this principled approach is reflected in Warisan’s participation in the current unity government.

Darell said Sabah’s long-standing development gaps, erosion of rights, and structural challenges were the result of 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 unequal and overly centralised administration,” he said.

In this context, he stressed that Warisan’s stance was neither new nor radical, adding that Sarawak had demonstrated leadership by holding firm to a principled position on state rights and autonomy.

“Warisan believes Sabah must do the same, calmly, firmly, and without apology,” he said.

Darell also expressed appreciation to media organisations 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 said it was disappointing when certain headlines created confusion rather than understanding, expressing hope that future reporting would reflect accuracy, balance and integrity.

Reiterating the party’s position, Darell said: “Warisan remains steadfast, Sabah-led governance for Sabah, and principled cooperation at the federal level to build a stronger and fairer Malaysia.”