Shafie: Unite, reject outside political influence

Borneo Post

a day ago

Shafie addressing the 300-strong crowd who attended the event on Saturday.
PENAMPANG (Aug 9): Parti Warisan President Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal has reiterated that the upcoming state election is crucial for reshaping Sabah's political landscape, warning against the illusion of a 'local victory' if the winning party remains beholden to peninsula-based partners.
'The slogan we have been using all this while is 'In God we trust, unite we must',' he told reporters after meeting members of the Chinese community in the Kapayan constituency on Saturday.
'And then, is it wrong for us to unite the Sabahan people under one roof? No. This is in line with how we can unite the Sabahan people. Do not tell me that we can only be united using political parties,' he said.
Shafie stressed that Sabahans should be united by their shared needs, not just political affiliations, citing better education, healthcare, infrastructure, and basic necessities as key priorities.
On health reforms, he called for the establishment of a Sabah Ministry of Health to produce generic medicines locally, cut costs, and reduce poverty.
'Most pharmaceutical plants are in Melaka and Selangor. They can produce, why can't we? Costs will be lower if we produce our own products,' he said.
He emphasised that a state ministry would complement, not overlap, the federal Health Ministry.
'Can you imagine, like in my hometown, there's no operating theatre? I have been asking for it since Chua Jui Ming was Health Minister. We are saving human lives,' he added.
Addressing recent bullying cases in schools and the medical sector, Shafie called for swift and firm law enforcement.
'The law is there, and when incidents happen, immediate action must be taken. That will deter people from repeating such acts,' he said, warning that delays fuel speculation and misinformation.
He also urged Sabahans to reject the entry of parties from Sarawak and the peninsula, warning it could further divide the state's political scene.
'Enough is enough. They see a vacuum here for us to be even further divided,' he said, in reference to Sarawak-based Parti Bumi Kenyalang's (PBK) plans to contest in the 17th state election.
Shafie stressed that Sabahans themselves have the power to stop the encroachment by refusing to join or vote for such parties.
He concluded by reaffirming that solving Sabah's challenges requires genuine cooperation between the federal and state governments, though such advice often goes unheeded.