KOTA KINABALU: The Opposition must unite and become a formidable force, says Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

       "We must unwind (what has happened) and look to the future," said the Warisan president on a live talk show with Harith Iskander on Friday (Aug 20).

       Shafie did not want to dwell further about Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who will take over from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister on Saturday (Aug 21).

       Shafie only indicated that there was no real difference in the change as all were from the same coalition.

       On a question by Harith if the outcome of the vote would have been different if he was the Opposition PM candidate instead of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Shafie said it was over and a done deal.

       On Harith's further prodding, Shafie said he had slightly more then 20 MPs outside the 105 MPs’ Opposition bloc, who were keen to support him.

       However, he said in the interests of the Opposition, Warisan and its allies within the bloc decided to agree for Anwar as the sole candidate.

       "We all supported the Opposition choice," he said, adding that Pejuang’s Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the others all supported it.

       "Let's look beyond now," he said, adding that he preferred not to discuss what could have happened if he was the Opposition candidate.