KOTA KINABALU: It is the prerogative of Umno to choose any party to work with for the upcoming Sabah state election, said Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Yesterday, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that Barisan Nasional would want to strengthen ties with Pakatan Harapan (PH) ahead of the Sabah election.

"It is their party and their right to choose who to work with. We are open, and we do not want to reject anyone.

"What is important for us is to strengthen Warisan, which is focused on fighting for the people of Sabah," he said during a press conference at the party headquarters here.

Last week, Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said that the party would form a coalition.

Despite no official announcement of the components, leaders from Warisan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat were seen at the event.

Mohd Shafie, who is also the Senallang assemblyman, said that Umno could team up with any party, but they should also have some respect towards Warisan.

When asked whether the possible cooperation between Umno, Warisan, and Pakatan Harapan would become even more complicated, Mohd Shafie said that politics is complicated and dynamic by nature.

Citing the ongoing judicial review on Sabah's entitled 40 per cent net revenue by Sabah Law Society, the former Chief Minister said that there had been irregularities by some politicians in pursuing the rights of the people of Sabah.

"That is why I was at the Court of Appeal on May 16, from morning to afternoon. I wanted to see who would be there and what they talked about.

"I do not want to say anything about why the state attorney general was not there. But as a citizen, I do hope SLS's judicial review will be heard and that the Malaysia Agreement will be fulfilled.

"It is about the people of Sabah, and the Federal Constitution has to be respected," he said.

Last Thursday, the Court of Appeal saw intervention from counsel who alleged that he represented the Sabah government to oppose SLS's application for leave for the judicial review.

This incident also raised questions among the public about the absence of representatives from the Sabah Attorney General's Chambers during the proceedings.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1053927/umno-has-right-choose-its-allies-sabah-state-election-says-shafie