
Warisan to contest all 73 seats, PN rejects all alliances in Sabah's upcoming state poll
He emphasised selecting winnable, loyal candidates committed to serving the people. Shafie denied any alliance with Perikatan Nasional (PN), stating Warisan will only work with the people.
'We will contest all 73 available seats, and we also have potential candidates ready — we're just waiting for the announcement.
'Candidates who can win, candidates who won't jump ship, and candidates who will serve the people,' he told reporters after the 'Ramah Mesra' (friendly gathering) with community leaders at Kampung Imam Laggu, Jalan Kunak-Semporna, on Friday (Aug 1).
He also voiced concern over political fragmentation in Sabah, warning that the growing number of parties could lead to public disunity.
'There are various parties in Sabah, including Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan), United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation, the Social Democratic Harmony Party, Parti Bersatu Sabah, and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku.
'I advise that at the state level, the people must remain united and not become divided, because I am concerned that politics will become the root of disunity,' he said.
Meanwhile, PN will contest solo in the upcoming Sabah state election, rejecting alliances it deems unstable or confusing.
PN Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee criticised local leaders for forming inconsistent political coalitions, calling them a 'three-way love affair' that doesn't benefit the people.
He reaffirmed PN's confidence in retaining public support and slammed selective use of the 'Sabah for Sabah' slogan.
The Sabah chairman also urged an end to party-hopping, saying it undermines democracy and stability. He believes PN's grassroots backing remains strong and capable of challenging the current GRS government.
The Sabah state election is expected to be held soon following the end of the current administration's term. — Aug 2, 2025

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
7 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Muhyiddin denies defending subsidies for foreigners
PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said the coalition's fundamental policy on subsidies has always been that they should be for Malaysians, not foreigners. PETALING JAYA : Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin has denied defending the distribution of government subsidies to foreigners, urging Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to furnish proof he had ever made such a statement. In a video posted on Facebook, Muhyiddin said Anwar's claim that he had made such a remark was slanderous. 'I have never said such a thing. From the beginning, our fundamental policy on subsidies has been that they are meant for Malaysians, not foreigners. 'I want to ask where Anwar read or heard that (purported statement), because there's definitely none. 'What was the source, and was it genuine or fake?' asked the Bersatu president. Earlier today, Sinar Harian quoted Anwar as saying that Muhyiddin had questioned the government for burdening foreigners when they had also made significant contributions to the country. The prime minister said the government had decided on targeted subsidies for electricity and RON95 petrol so that they could continue helping Malaysians while reducing the nation's fiscal deficit.


New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Azalina: Govt in final phase towards establishing ombudsman body
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is in the final phase of establishing the Malaysian Ombudsman body, and is working to raise broader awareness among stakeholders on the proposed independent watchdog. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the list of proposed policies is being finalised and will be submitted to the cabinet for consideration. She said six stakeholder engagement sessions involving 665 participants have been held, to ensure the institution will be comprehensive, independent and effective in Malaysia's socio-political landscape. "The matters presented during the engagement sessions included initial proposals and parameters for establishing the Malaysian Ombudsman, covering its structure and composition, functions and jurisdiction, as well as the scope of complaints to be administered by this new institution. "These sessions also involved benchmarking against successful international ombudsman models in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Timor-Leste," she said. Azalina said this in a written parliamentary reply to Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut), regarding the outcome of the government's stakeholder engagement efforts and the next steps to expedite the ombudsman's establishment. She said the engagement sessions also addressed issues, including limits to the ombudsman's powers, its impact on federal-state relations, appointment terms and the types of government misconduct it would oversee. She said all findings and feedback gathered during the engagement sessions and benchmarking visits were refined in a policy workshop to shape the framework and implementation. "The establishment of the ombudsman reflects the Madani government's efforts to strengthen integrity, transparency and accountability in governance. "This institution is expected to bring significant benefits to the public and the civil service, while also boosting investor and international community confidence in Malaysia's commitment to upholding good governance, justice and the protection of human rights," she said. On Nov 13, 2024, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran had said that the mechanism for the implementation of the Malaysian Ombudsman will be finalised by the first quarter of this year. In April last year, the Legal Affairs Division announced that the government had agreed to establish a more comprehensive ombudsman body through a three-month study.


New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Govt spent RM21mil on Madani Raya Celebrations in 2024, 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: The federal government spent over RM21 million on organising Madani Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations in 2024 and 2025. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said all costs were fully borne by the federal government as part of its social investment to strengthen public engagement and reinforce the spirit of unity in the Madani framework. He said no financial contributions were received from private entities or government-linked companies (GLCs) for the festivities in either year. "The actual expenditure for the 2024 Madani Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations held in seven states was RM10,050,196.66, with an average of RM1,435,742.38 per state. "For 2025, the total expenditure across seven locations is RM10,928,222.53, averaging RM1,561,174.65 per location," he said. He said this in response to Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN–Kuala Krai) on the expenditure for each open house and Madani Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration programme organised by the government. He said the costs covered essential items such as logistics, public catering and promotional efforts to ensure wide community participation, especially as the events were held on a large scale across multiple states. He said that starting from 2023, the open house celebrations had been expanded nationwide. In contrast, the 2022 event was limited to attendees in the Klang Valley, yet incurred a higher cost of RM11 million. "The open house was part of the government's efforts to strengthen the relationship between the people and leaders through an inclusive, people-friendly approach that reaches all levels of society. "These events are not merely festive celebrations but serve as important platforms to foster national unity, promote harmony and encourage interaction and mutual understanding among Malaysia's multiracial society," he said.