Warisan will win back Lahad Datu, says Shafie Apdal

LAHAD DATU - Parti Warisan (Warisan) will win back Lahad Datu Parliamentary seat in the next General Election (GE), said party president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Shafie said he is confident that Warisan in Lahad Datu Parliament is stable and the party machinery is always strengthened.

"We want to ensure that we will take back Lahad Datu, I am sure that this is one of the ways to do it although it may not be easy.

"But I am confident that when we look at the existing framework, we are ready to ensure that the existing Warisan machinery is strengthened," he told reporters during Breaking Fast and Iftar Ramadan Ceremony with the Lahad Datu Community at the Ar Raudhah Mosque, here, on Thursday.

When asked about the selection of candidates for the Lahad Datu Parliament, Mohd Shafie, who is also the MP for Semporna, said the matter would be looked into thoroughly.

"We have to thoroughly observe that the candidates are not only capable of winning but also have the values ​​of leadership.

“We do not want to field a winnable candidate but he or she will party-hop later. We also do not want to field a winnable candidate but he or she does not serve the people. We want an elected representative that is attentive towards helping the people and focuses on people centric programmes and does not prioritise chasing titles or projects,” he said.

For context, in October last year, Lahad Datu MP Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi announced his dismissal from Warisan and became an independent elected representative in the Dewan Rakyat.

However, in November, he who is also the Segama State Assemblyman was confirmed to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar's prediction that Pakatan Harapan (PH) may need at least five years or two more rounds of GE to regain control of Putrajaya, he also agreed with that view.

"This is a sign that we have to repent and realise that the people no longer want to see and choose us. We cannot force the people to choose us," he said.

Prior to that, Sinar Harian on Thursday reported that Nurul Izzah expressed her view that the next GE will not be easy and it is necessary to prepare for two more rounds for a more positive impact for the opposition.