Sabah DAP, Warisan move to calm tempers over seat distribution

Sabah DAP says the 60:40 seat formula is not an ultimatum to Warisan while the latter praised Sabah PH chairman Christina Liew for defusing the misunderstanding.

KOTA KINABALU: A senior Sabah DAP leader is moving to soothe ruffled feathers in Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Parti Warisan Sabah over a proposed seat distribution formula that was supposed to give Warisan 60% of the state seats to contest.

Under the proposal, Sabah PH would take the balance of the state seats and the lion’s share of the parliamentary seats in the 14th general election (GE14).

Sabah PH comprises PKR, DAP and Amanah.

Sabah DAP adviser Jimmy Wong said a recent statement by state party chief Stephen Wong on the 60:40 formula favouring Warisan was only a suggestion.

“What Stephen said was only a proposal and it was made with the sincerest of intentions,” he told the media here today.

“As such, the question of DAP giving an ultimatum (to Warisan) does not arise at all,” said Jimmy who, along with Stephen, have dismissed talk of friction between Warisan and Sabah PH.

He said Stephen made the proposal to help stimulate discussions between Sabah PH and Warisan since the general election was fast approaching.

“Time is running out and our hope is that the seat arrangement can be worked out as soon as possible,” he said, adding that all was calm within Sabah PH as well.

“We are continuing to talk among ourselves. Of course differences of opinions will arise but we can settle them,” Jimmy added.

Stephen had announced the 60:40 ratio on Jan 24, a day after PH national deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin met officials of the local coalition partners.

Warisan deputy president Darell Leiking had said the party was surprised by Stephen’s announcement as such a plan had not been discussed between PH and Warisan leaders.

Responding almost immediately, Sabah PH chairman Christina Liew said Stephen’s statement did not reflect the coalition’s stand.

She said Sabah PH had only informed Muhyiddin at the meeting that they would allow Warisan to take the lead in contesting state seats in the coming polls.

Liew said Muhyiddin advised Sabah PH leaders to form an electoral pact with local opposition parties, in particular Warisan.

In a related development, Warisan secretary-general Loretto Padua Jr said the party understood DAP’s “anxiety” in wanting to settle seat negotiations with them.

He said Stephen’s announcement had caused a misunderstanding, and many in Warisan and PH had taken to social media to vent their feelings.

“This misunderstanding was detrimental to the state opposition bloc when both Warisan and DAP Sabah supporters traded attacks in their comments.

“At the same time, Barisan Nasional cybertroopers seized the opportunity to fan anger among Sabahans who want to see real regime change.

“If (Stephen) Wong had pointed out that the announcement was merely a preliminary guide and was subject to change, as affirmed by (DAP Sabah secretary) Chan Foong Hin today, then all this unnecessary misunderstanding would not have occurred,” said Padua.

He said Warisan was thankful for the firm and immediate action taken by Liew to defuse the misunderstanding and stop it from developing into a major problem.

“She attended to the issue tactfully and decisively without having to submit herself to any pressure by anyone from PH because she believes the ultimate objective is to topple BN Sabah. This is a true display of a focused leadership.

“She could have easily played safe by keeping quiet and waited to see who had the best argument or most support but she did not and, for this, Warisan appreciates and salutes her leadership.

“I look forward to political cooperation between Warisan and PKR to avoid a ‘3-cornered fight’ that would lead to split votes.

“We will need to present ourselves as formidable and credible parties that represent the national and state interests respectively.

“This cooperation shall not only be about winning the election but also to effectively implement our rights and privileges prescribed under MA63 (Malaysia Agreement 1963),” he said.

He said what transpired between Warisan and PH this week clearly showed that Warisan was no proxy of PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad as claimed by many.

“If Warisan is indeed a proxy of Tun Mahathir, then obviously there would have been no issue in relation to seat distribution in Sabah between Warisan and Sabah PH because he would have instructed us to accept whatever Sabah PH offered,” he said.

Sabah PH: Seat distribution with Warisan not discussed yet

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