Seeing is believing – a picture is worth a thousand words.
KOTA KINABALU: The simultaneous appearance of three prominent local party leaders at the famous Keningau Oath Stone (Batu Sumpah) today to commemorate Malaysia Day has sparked considerable speculation and intrigue.
These influential figures – Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) president Priscella Peter, have drawn attention that extends far beyond mere coincidence.
While skeptics dismiss their gathering as happenstance, astute observers recognize this as a compelling indicator of potential political collaboration ahead of the general election.
The powerful symbolism of their unified presence speaks volumes, lending substantial credibility to persistent rumors that Warisan, STAR, and KDM are actively pursuing preliminary discussions to establish a formidable coalition of local parties positioned to challenge the GE16.
Their collective appearance effectively communicates what informal political circles have long whispered—that these three parties are strategically positioning themselves for meaningful cooperation.
The Keningau Parliament Citizen Service Centre orchestrated a meaningful Malaysia Day celebration, which Jeffrey, serving as STAR’s President, ceremoniously inaugurated.
Notably, Shafie and Priscella graced the occasion as distinguished invited guests, underscoring the event’s significance.
The Keningau Oath Stone (Batu Sumpah) is a historic monument in Sabah that symbolizes the pledge and terms under which the interior communities of Sabah agreed to form Malaysia.
Malaysia Day stands as an annual commemoration honouring the pivotal 1963 formation of the Malaysian federation, when Malaya, North Borneo (Sabah), and Sarawak joined together in historic unity.
The convergence of these three political entities signals a significant shift in the political landscape.
What sceptics once considered improbable is now demonstrably taking shape before our eyes.
The strategic alignment emerging from today’s gathering suggests that these parties recognise the mutual benefits of collaboration, making this development not merely interesting but potentially transformative for regional politics.
In earlier remarks, Shafie revealed that Warisan is actively engaging in strategic discussions with two prominent Sabah-based political entities—Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM)—regarding a potential coalition arrangement for the forthcoming general election (GE16).
In response to Shafie’s remarks, Jeffrey recently emphasised that his party has not engaged in any formal negotiations with Warisan or Parti KDM regarding political cooperation or joint ventures, underscoring that consolidating the party’s standing throughout Sabah remains the immediate focus.
Simultaneously, Priscella made clear that KDM will not participate in GE16 independently; instead, the party welcomes collaboration with other regional political organisations to establish a unified political coalition centred on advancing Sabah’s collective interests.
Pursuing this objective, KDM has recently chosen to withdraw its backing from the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) administration and position itself outside government operations in preparation for the forthcoming state and national elections.
KDM maintains legislative representation in the state assembly through Rusdin Riman, who serves as ADUN for Paginatan.
