KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah remains unwavering in its commitment to reject racial and religious extremism, firmly rejecting sectarian politics as incompatible with the state’s values.
Party President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal asserted that should Kuala Lumpur-based parties seek collaboration with Warisan ahead/after of the forthcoming general election, they must accept a non-negotiable condition: zero tolerance for extremism in the nation.
The former Sabah Chief Minister underscored that social harmony and reciprocal respect among Sabah’s diverse ethnic and religious communities represent the fundamental pillars of Sabahan identity.
Demonstrating this commitment to mutual respect, Shafie highlighted that during Warisan’s governance in Sabah, the administration granted two days of leave for Christians to celebrate Christmas, establishing Sabah as Malaysia’s pioneering state to offer such recognition.
“We are determined to eliminate racial and religious extremism from Sabah. This conviction prompted my recent conversation with Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR president) in Keningau, where I emphasized the urgency of our unity.
“We must not fragment ourselves—division weakens us. This same principle drives our Mooncake Festival initiative, which celebrates our collective commitment to living harmoniously across all races and faiths,” he explained.
Shafie said this in his speech during the Mooncake celebration in Luyang on Saturday night.
Also present was KDM President Priscella Peter.
Shafie emphasised that the approaching general election carries significant implications for Sabah’s future.
In acknowledgment of this, he expressed gratitude to the Chinese community for their steadfast backing of Warisan, particularly during the recent state elections.
Despite securing only 25 seats in the previous state election, Shafie remains optimistic about strengthening Warisan’s position in the upcoming general election and securing an influential position in shaping the Federal government’s composition.
