Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal is bracing for a highly competitive Sabah state election, admitting that no party — not even his own — is guaranteed an easy win.

Shafie acknowledged the state’s increasingly fractured political landscape, calling the upcoming contest “tough for all sides.”

“Before, they (GRS) united to go against us. Today, they have many contenders,” he said. “Sometimes you see 10-cornered fights, 5-cornered fights. That’s already normal in the political world.”

The former chief minister said no coalition or bloc is likely to walk away with a clear majority, as an estimated 21 parties — up from 15 in 2020 — are expected to contest.

Of those, 12 are part of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, while the remaining nine include Warisan, Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), Parti Impian Sabah (PIS), and other local outfits — plus potential independents.

“What’s important is that we show the people that we are the choice to save Sabah and its people,” Shafie said, adding that public turnout at events is not necessarily an indicator of electoral support.

“We cannot say anything. Although I see the reception in many places, that reception is not an indicator for us to say that is our confidence,” he said. “We don’t know what’s inside people’s hearts and feelings.”

To that end, Shafie urged Warisan members to intensify grassroots outreach, especially among rural communities and younger voters, who are expected to form a sizeable chunk of the electorate.

“This is key to showing that we are a party that defends the people’s rights and Sabah’s future.” – March 24, 2025