Will Warisan, DAP mend ties before GE15?
Ties between Warisan and DAP have soured since the Sabah party spread its wings to the peninsula.
KOTA KINABALU: Cracks have emerged in the relationship between Warisan and DAP, which were once formidable political partners, after the Shafie Apdal-led party spread its wings to the peninsula.
The two parties seemed inseparable at one point in time, with Sabah DAP even agreeing to use the Warisan logo in the state polls in 2020.
But their relationship is on the rocks after Warisan’s venture across the South China Sea saw it recruit DAP leaders and members.
This has been worsened by Warisan contesting in Pakatan Harapan (PH) areas in the recent Johor elections.
Warisan vice-president Junz Wong acknowledged that the relationship has hit a rocky patch since PH signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Putrajaya behind its back.
The former Sabah minister said the inking of the MoU, which Warisan had repeatedly criticised and objected to previously, was akin to PH taking a stand of supporting the Barisan Nasional-led government.
“But I think the relationship (between Warisan and DAP) is still there because I don’t see them as an enemy,” he told FMT.
Wong said Warisan would be holding key meetings to plan its election strategies starting this week. Among the items on the agenda is the topic of opposition unity.
Sabah DAP secretary Phoong Jin Zhe admitted to FMT that both parties were not on the best of terms now, especially after the Johor polls.
“But the question is, are we still friends? I must admit there are some differences at the moment, like the future path we should work on together in the coming elections,” he said.
He said the main reason why communication between the two parties had broken down was because Warisan, despite touting itself as an alternative, was unable to justify why it vied for seats contested by PH in Johor.
Warisan fielded candidates in the Mahkota, Bekok, Pekan Nanas, Permas, Johor Jaya and Bukit Batu seats, which PH won in the 2018 general election (GE14).
“They have to contest in Umno areas to justify offering a new choice to the people. Why did they put all their resources to fight us?” he asked.
Phoong said he was “honestly worried” that both parties were no longer on the same page on the elections, but was optimistic that they could come to the same understanding achieved before GE14.
“There’s no reason we can’t do it again. We have to put aside certain differences to achieve a bigger goal,” he said.
KOTA KINABALU: Cracks have emerged in the relationship between Warisan and DAP, which were once formidable political partners, after the Shafie Apdal-led party spread its wings to the peninsula.
The two parties seemed inseparable at one point in time, with Sabah DAP even agreeing to use the Warisan logo in the state polls in 2020.
But their relationship is on the rocks after Warisan’s venture across the South China Sea saw it recruit DAP leaders and members.
This has been worsened by Warisan contesting in Pakatan Harapan (PH) areas in the recent Johor elections.
Warisan vice-president Junz Wong acknowledged that the relationship has hit a rocky patch since PH signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Putrajaya behind its back.
The former Sabah minister said the inking of the MoU, which Warisan had repeatedly criticised and objected to previously, was akin to PH taking a stand of supporting the Barisan Nasional-led government.
“But I think the relationship (between Warisan and DAP) is still there because I don’t see them as an enemy,” he told FMT.
Wong said Warisan would be holding key meetings to plan its election strategies starting this week. Among the items on the agenda is the topic of opposition unity.
Sabah DAP secretary Phoong Jin Zhe admitted to FMT that both parties were not on the best of terms now, especially after the Johor polls.
“But the question is, are we still friends? I must admit there are some differences at the moment, like the future path we should work on together in the coming elections,” he said.
He said the main reason why communication between the two parties had broken down was because Warisan, despite touting itself as an alternative, was unable to justify why it vied for seats contested by PH in Johor.
Warisan fielded candidates in the Mahkota, Bekok, Pekan Nanas, Permas, Johor Jaya and Bukit Batu seats, which PH won in the 2018 general election (GE14).
“They have to contest in Umno areas to justify offering a new choice to the people. Why did they put all their resources to fight us?” he asked.
Phoong said he was “honestly worried” that both parties were no longer on the same page on the elections, but was optimistic that they could come to the same understanding achieved before GE14.
“There’s no reason we can’t do it again. We have to put aside certain differences to achieve a bigger goal,” he said.
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