Enough talk about ‘big tent’ says Warisan chief
Warisan president Shafie Apdal said he was willing to work with the opposition parties on matters regarding Sabah. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Warisan leader Shafie Apdal has rejected talk about a “big tent” of political parties for the next general election, saying that what was needed was a government that can “put the country on the right track”
“I have said this before, we don’t want a ‘big tent’ as a solution. How many tents are there, here and there, and how many tents have I entered? I have entered Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) tents. That’s enough.
“It is difficult for us to satisfy all parties, and that is why I want to make sure that Warisan is strengthened,” he said, according to an Utusan Malaysia report.
His comments came in response to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remarks that his Pejuang party would continue to reject working under a grand opposition coalition if it is led by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
Regarding a statement claiming that Warisan appeared to be moving away from PH, Shafie said PH was free to provide its views but stressed that there will be no more PH Plus, the grouping of PH-friendly parties, including Warisan, that took power in Sabah.
However, Shafie said he was willing to work with the opposition on issues of importance to the nation and Sabah.
PETALING JAYA: Warisan leader Shafie Apdal has rejected talk about a “big tent” of political parties for the next general election, saying that what was needed was a government that can “put the country on the right track”
“I have said this before, we don’t want a ‘big tent’ as a solution. How many tents are there, here and there, and how many tents have I entered? I have entered Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) tents. That’s enough.
“It is difficult for us to satisfy all parties, and that is why I want to make sure that Warisan is strengthened,” he said, according to an Utusan Malaysia report.
His comments came in response to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remarks that his Pejuang party would continue to reject working under a grand opposition coalition if it is led by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
Regarding a statement claiming that Warisan appeared to be moving away from PH, Shafie said PH was free to provide its views but stressed that there will be no more PH Plus, the grouping of PH-friendly parties, including Warisan, that took power in Sabah.
However, Shafie said he was willing to work with the opposition on issues of importance to the nation and Sabah.
Mahathir has unfortunately given Shafie Apdal unrealistic expectations that he is a likely replacement for Anwar Ibrahim.
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