KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan is still strong in Keningau, said party division chief Datuk Loretto Padua following the resignation of many of its division members, including the vice chief and acting Wanita chief.

       Padua said other division committee members were still part of Warisan.

       “The actions of some of our members leaving Warisan does not affect us much because we are still strong,” he said after a meeting with his division members early Friday (Jan 7).

       He said such actions had fuelled their spirits to do better and to strive towards party goals.

       Padua said Warisan’s move to spread its wings to Peninsular Malaysia was not a deviation from its original plan, which was to change the government as they did in the 2018 General Election.

       “The people spoke via their votes then, but there was a change in government and a breach of the people’s mandate following the Sheraton Move,” he said.

       The Sheraton Move saw the ousting of the elected Pakatan Harapan government in 2020 and the resignation of prime minister Mahathir Mohamad after 22 months in power.

       Padua said the move to merge with and support Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Perikatan Nasional coalitions was akin to betraying the people’s mandate.

       After former Warisan vice president Datuk Peter Anthony and Limbahau assemblyman Datuk Juil Nuatim quit the party on Dec 28 last year, many others including division leaders and members from Sepanggar, Tenom, Matunggong and Keningau have also left the party.