KOTA KINABALU: Warisan is seriously considering spreading its wings to the peninsula, convinced that its “Unity” message will be able to garner substantial support across the sea.
Its secretary-general, Loretto Padua Jr, said members need not be concerned over this as the Sabah-based party’s theme will catch on in West Malaysia.
“We are confident with what we have been saying and holding on to all this while, which is unity — let Sabah show them the way,” he said, during Warisan’s annual general meeting here today.
Padua was speaking when launching the party’s women, youth and Wirawati wing meetings on behalf of deputy president Darell Leiking.
The wings will debate over the expansion before submitting the proposal at the AGM this afternoon, which party president Shafie Apdal is scheduled to attend.
Earlier, Warisan Youth chief Azis Jamman said “something big is going to happen very soon”.
He said it was rare to hear of a Sabah party spreading its wings to the peninsula, adding that the previous state election had not only attracted the attention of leaders in West Malaysia but also the people in general.
“Hopefully, this can be considered at the central meeting,” said the Sepanggar MP.
He acknowledged there were some reservations among members whether setting foot in the peninsula would be a good idea.
“But like the saying goes, ‘we won’t know if we don’t try’.
“When I was in Kuala Lumpur, strangers came up to me and said: ‘Thank you for sticking to your principles.’ They were happy we are still with the party despite the offers made for us to switch sides.
“And they asked me whether Warisan is in the peninsula. For your information, there are MPs there interested in joining us,” Azis claimed.
Political analysts had previously said the “Unity” theme did not win Warisan the state election on Sept 26 as unity was not an issue in Sabah but it could be a totally different matter in West Malaysia.