In This Guide
Snapshot
Full Name: Parti Warisan Sabah (Sabah Heritage Party); branded simply as Warisan since 2020.
Founded: 17 October 2016 in Kota Kinabalu by Mohd Shafie Apdal, weeks after his September 2016 departure from UMNO. The launch was held at the Magellan Sutera Resort in Kota Kinabalu and attended by several thousand supporters.
Founder and President: Mohd Shafie bin Apdal (born 23 September 1957, Semporna, Sabah). Former UMNO Vice-President and Federal Territories Minister. Suluk (Tausug) ethnicity.
Deputy President: Darell Leiking - former Minister of International Trade and Industry (2 July 2018 - 24 February 2020), KadazanDusun community leader, former MP for Penampang.
Status (2026): Opposition at Sabah state level (3 of 60 state assembly seats per the September 2020 state election outcome, approximate). At federal level holds 3 of 222 parliamentary seats from GE15 (19 November 2022), all in Sabah. Aligned with the Anwar Ibrahim unity government via confidence-and-supply arrangement but not a formal Pakatan Harapan component.
Position: Sabah autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63); multi-racial Sabah-centric politics; anti-corruption posture inherited from Shafie's post-1MDB exit from UMNO; moderate centrist policy mix.
Membership Claim: The party has not consistently published membership figures. Approximate operating estimate per local Sabah press reporting circa 2020-2022: roughly 200,000-300,000 registered members concentrated in Sabah (figures unverified).
Headquarters: Wisma Warisan / Bangunan Warisan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Symbol: A stylised hornbill (the Sabah state bird) in red, blue and white. The hornbill (kenyalang/burung enggang) symbolises Borneo identity across both Sabah and Sarawak.
Colours: Red, blue, white.
Key Distinguishing Features: - The first significant Sabah-based multi-racial party to break from UMNO since the 1990s PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah) era - Brief tenure in power: Shafie as Sabah Chief Minister 12 May 2018 to 29 September 2020 (approximately 2 years, 4 months) - Survived the Sheraton-Move period at federal level despite Sabah-state political volatility - The 26 September 2020 state-election loss to GRS triggered by Musa Aman's 29 July 2020 defection claim and the subsequent state-assembly dissolution - Failed peninsular expansion in GE15 (zero peninsular seats) - Continued personal-vehicle character: Shafie remains the indispensable figure, succession unresolved
Coalition Status: - 2018-2020: Led the Sabah state government (Warisan + DAP + PKR + UPKO state coalition) - 2020-present: Sabah state opposition; federal supporter of unity government from outside PH - Not a member of: Pakatan Harapan (formal), Perikatan Nasional, Barisan Nasional, GRS, GPS
Shafie Apdal: From UMNO Vice-President to Warisan Founder
Early Life
- Born 23 September 1957 in Semporna, Sabah - a coastal town in eastern Sabah known for its proximity to Sipadan Island and its predominantly Bajau and Suluk Muslim population - Of Suluk (Tausug) ethnicity - the Suluk are an indigenous Muslim people whose ancestral homeland straddles the Sulu archipelago (southern Philippines) and eastern Sabah - Educated at MARA Junior Science College and tertiary education at Institut Teknologi MARA (now UiTM)
UMNO Career (approximately 1990s - 2016)
- Joined UMNO Sabah after UMNO's 1991 entry into Sabah politics following the dissolution of USNO - Elected MP for Semporna from 1995 onwards (approximate; held the seat continuously) - Federal cabinet portfolios held under PMs Mahathir, Abdullah Badawi, and Najib Razak: - Deputy Minister in various portfolios (mid-1990s onwards) - Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs - Minister of Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage - Minister of Rural and Regional Development (2009-2013, under Najib) - Minister of Federal Territories (2013-2015, under Najib) - Rose to UMNO Vice-President - one of the three elected VPs of the party, the highest non-presidential rank in UMNO
The 1MDB Rupture (2015-2016)
- From early 2015 Shafie was publicly cautious-to-critical of the 1MDB scandal - On 28 July 2015, Najib Razak conducted a cabinet reshuffle that dropped Deputy PM Muhyiddin Yassin, Rural Development Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal, and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail - all viewed as 1MDB-critical - Shafie remained in UMNO but was sidelined; reportedly facing investigation/show-cause processes within the party - September 2016: Shafie resigned from UMNO - 17 October 2016: Launched Parti Warisan Sabah
Sabah Chief Minister (2018-2020)
- Sabah state election held alongside GE14 on 9 May 2018 - Warisan + DAP + PKR + UPKO (then-aligned) won enough seats; coalition negotiations involved defections and a state-government formation process over 10-12 May 2018 - Sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Sabah on 12 May 2018 by the Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at Istana Negeri, Kota Kinabalu - Tenure focused on Sabah autonomy demands, MA63 implementation discussions with the federal Mahathir government, and infrastructure including the Pan-Borneo Highway Sabah stretch - Tenure ended 29 September 2020 when Hajiji Noor (GRS) was sworn in following the snap state election
Post-CM Period (2020-2026)
- Continued as Warisan President and Semporna MP - Won Semporna again in GE15 (19 November 2022) - Briefly floated by some opposition figures as a compromise PM candidate during the November 2022 government-formation negotiations - did not materialise
Personal
- Religion: Sunni Islam - Married; multiple children - Languages: Malay, English, Suluk (Tausug)
Public Image
- Distinguished himself within UMNO as relatively understated and consensus-oriented - Post-2016: positioned as a Sabah elder-statesman figure; uses MA63 language consistently - Approximate age at GE16 (must be held by November 2027): around 70
The October 2016 Founding
Pre-Founding Context (2013-2016)
- GE13 (5 May 2013): BN retained Sabah with UMNO Sabah dominant; Shafie remained Federal Territories Minister - 2015: 1MDB scandal broke into public view via Wall Street Journal (2 July 2015) and Sarawak Report - 28 July 2015: Najib cabinet reshuffle - Shafie out as Rural and Regional Development Minister (he had been moved to Rural in mid-2013 and reportedly was being further shuffled out) - August-September 2016: Public reports of Shafie's impending UMNO departure - Early September 2016: Shafie formally exits UMNO
Launch Day - 17 October 2016
- Venue: Magellan Sutera Resort, Kota Kinabalu - Approximate attendance: several thousand supporters (per local Sabah press) - Founding office-bearers announced (approximate, per launch communiques): - President: Mohd Shafie Apdal - Deputy President: Darell Leiking (then a former PKR MP who joined the new party) - Vice-Presidents and Supreme Council members drawn from former UMNO Sabah figures, defectors from other parties, and independent Sabah professionals - Founding theme: "Sabah for Sabahans" - emphasising state autonomy, multi-racial inclusion, and anti-corruption
Registration and Legal Status
- Registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS) under the Societies Act 1966 - Initial registration as a Sabah-centric party; constitutional amendments in 2020 enabled peninsular branches
Initial Defector Wave
Within weeks of the launch, several Sabah politicians joined Warisan including: - Junz Wong - former PKR figure - Darell Leiking - former PKR - Several former UMNO Sabah branch-level figures from Semporna, Lahad Datu, and adjacent areas - KadazanDusun community figures previously aligned with UPKO/PBS
Early Strategy (2016-2018)
- Positioned as the Sabah-first alternative to peninsula-controlled UMNO and peninsula-coordinated PH parties - Built grassroots branches across Sabah's rural east coast (Bajau-Suluk areas) and the KadazanDusun interior - Negotiated electoral cooperation with PH (PKR, DAP, Amanah) for the 2018 general election - the Sabah seats were contested in a complex pattern where Warisan led most state seats and PH contested some federal-state combinations - Did not formally join Pakatan Harapan but operated as a parallel Sabah ally
GE14 and the Path to Power (May 2018)
GE14 - 9 May 2018
- Held alongside the Sabah state election (60 state seats) - Federal result nationally: Pakatan Harapan won 113 of 222 seats; BN reduced to 79; PAS held 18; Warisan won 8 federal seats from Sabah - Sabah state result: 60 seats contested - Warisan: 21 seats (largest single party in Sabah) - BN (UMNO Sabah, MCA, PBRS, LDP, UPKO): 29 seats (reduced from previous BN dominance) - STAR (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, Jeffrey Kitingan): 2 seats - PKR (contesting some Sabah state seats in coordination): 2 seats - DAP: 6 seats - Independents: 0
The 10-12 May Government-Formation Drama
- 10 May 2018 morning: BN initially claimed it could form Sabah state government with 31 seats including 6 UPKO seats - 10 May 2018: Musa Aman (UMNO Sabah) sworn in as Chief Minister - 11-12 May 2018: 6 UPKO assemblymen defected to Warisan; UPKO president Wilfred Madius Tangau aligned with Warisan; multiple BN assemblymen jumped - The Warisan + DAP + PKR + UPKO bloc now had a majority - 12 May 2018: Shafie Apdal sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Sabah at Istana Negeri Sabah by Tun Juhar Mahiruddin (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) - Musa Aman initially refused to vacate but eventually stepped down
Sabah State Cabinet (Warisan-led, May 2018 onwards)
Approximate composition (Warisan-DAP-PKR-UPKO coalition): - Chief Minister: Shafie Apdal (Warisan) - Deputy CM I: Christina Liew (PKR) - Deputy CM II: Wilfred Madius Tangau (UPKO) - Deputy CM III: Jaujan Sambakong (Warisan, approximate) - Multiple state ministers (state EXCO portfolios) split across the coalition
Federal Cabinet (Warisan in Pakatan Harapan-led federal government)
- Darell Leiking - Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), sworn in 2 July 2018 - Other Warisan MPs took deputy minister or backbencher roles - Warisan was treated as a "PH-Plus" partner - formally separate but cooperating
Sabah Reforms Under Warisan (2018-2020)
- MA63 implementation talks with the federal Mahathir/Anwar shadow government - Sabah Sales Tax revision (5% state SST on selected goods) - Pan-Borneo Highway construction continuation - Tourism recovery initiatives - Continued petroleum-royalty dispute with Petronas (the 5% vs 20% question)
The Sheraton Move and Federal Aftermath (Feb-Jul 2020)
February 2020 Sheraton Move (Federal)
- 23 February 2020: Mahathir-aligned Bersatu and PKR's Azmin Ali faction met at Sheraton Petaling Jaya - 24 February 2020: Mahathir resigned as PM; Bersatu and approximately 10 PKR MPs defected - 1 March 2020: Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as 8th PM of Malaysia - Darell Leiking ceased to be MITI Minister on 24 February 2020 with the collapse of the PH federal government
Sabah State Situation (March-July 2020)
- Shafie remained Chief Minister of Sabah - the Sheraton Move was a federal event, not a state event - The Warisan-led Sabah state government continued operating - Tensions rose as Bersatu Sabah (newly aligned with the federal Muhyiddin PN government) began organising - COVID-19 lockdowns from 18 March 2020 (Movement Control Order) complicated political organising
The 29 July 2020 Musa Aman Defection Claim
- 29 July 2020: Musa Aman publicly announced he had obtained statutory declarations (SDs) from 33 of the 65 Sabah state assemblymen indicating they no longer supported Shafie Apdal as Chief Minister - 33 of 65 = a majority in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (60 elected + 6 nominated = 66; the working majority figure was 33) - Musa claimed he had the numbers to form a new state government - Shafie immediately rejected the claim and refused to resign
The 30 July 2020 Dissolution - 30 July 2020: Shafie advised the Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly - Tun Juhar approved the dissolution the same day - a constitutionally significant move that pre-empted Musa's claim by triggering a fresh election instead of a confidence vote in the existing assembly - Election Commission set the polling date for 26 September 2020
Court Proceedings (2020)
- Musa Aman challenged the dissolution but the courts upheld the Yang di-Pertua Negeri's discretion - Several SDs were later disputed; some signatories reportedly recanted
The September 2020 Sabah State Election
- Polling day: 26 September 2020 - 73 seats contested (60 standard + new constituencies after the 2018 redelineation; the working figure for the assembly is 73 elected after 2020) - Result: - Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) - led by Bersatu Sabah, PAS, and other PN-aligned plus PBS, STAR, SAPP, LDP: won approximately 38 seats - Warisan Plus (Warisan + DAP + PKR + UPKO): approximately 32 seats - Others: handful of seats - Hajiji Noor (Bersatu Sabah) sworn in as 16th Chief Minister of Sabah on 29 September 2020 - Warisan returned to opposition at state level
COVID-19 Aftermath
- The September 2020 Sabah election was held during a COVID-19 wave; campaigning was associated with a major outbreak that spread back to peninsular Malaysia following the polls - The election outcome and its public-health consequences became politically contested for months afterwards
Critical Timeline
Pre-Founding
- 23 September 1957: Mohd Shafie Apdal born in Semporna, Sabah - 1990s: Joins UMNO Sabah; becomes MP for Semporna - 2009-2013: Minister of Rural and Regional Development (under PM Najib) - 2013-2015: Minister of Federal Territories (under PM Najib) - 2 July 2015: 1MDB Wall Street Journal exposé published - 28 July 2015: Najib cabinet reshuffle - Shafie dropped from cabinet alongside DPM Muhyiddin and AG Abdul Gani Patail
Founding (2016)
- September 2016: Shafie resigns from UMNO - 17 October 2016: Parti Warisan Sabah launched at Magellan Sutera Resort, Kota Kinabalu
Building the Party (2016-2018)
- 2016-2017: Branch-building across Sabah; defections from PKR, UMNO Sabah, UPKO - Early 2018: Electoral cooperation agreement with PH for the upcoming GE14
GE14 and Power (2018)
- 9 May 2018: GE14 polling day; Warisan wins 21 of 60 Sabah state seats and 8 federal seats - 10 May 2018: Musa Aman briefly sworn in as Sabah CM - 11-12 May 2018: UPKO and BN defections to Warisan - 12 May 2018: Shafie Apdal sworn in as 15th Chief Minister of Sabah - 2 July 2018: Darell Leiking sworn in as MITI Minister in PH federal cabinet
Sheraton Move and Federal Collapse (2020)
- 23-24 February 2020: Sheraton Move; PH federal government collapses - 24 February 2020: Darell Leiking ceases to be MITI Minister - 1 March 2020: Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as 8th PM - 18 March 2020: COVID-19 MCO begins
The 2020 Sabah Crisis
- 29 July 2020: Musa Aman announces 33-SD defection claim - 30 July 2020: Shafie advises Tun Juhar to dissolve Sabah State Assembly; dissolution approved - 26 September 2020: Sabah state election; GRS wins approximately 38 seats vs Warisan Plus 32 - 29 September 2020: Hajiji Noor sworn in as 16th CM of Sabah
Opposition Period (2020-2022)
- 2020 constitutional amendment: Warisan opens to peninsular expansion - 2021: Party renamed publicly from "Parti Warisan Sabah" to simply "Warisan" to reflect national ambition (the legal name retained "Sabah") - Multiple peninsular branch launches in Klang Valley, Penang, Johor (limited traction)
GE15 (2022)
- 19 November 2022: GE15 polling day - Warisan wins 3 federal seats (all Sabah); zero peninsular seats - Shafie Apdal retains Semporna - 24 November 2022: Anwar Ibrahim sworn in as 10th PM; Warisan provides confidence-and-supply support from outside PH
Unity Government Era (2022-2026)
- 2023: Warisan supports federal budget passages - 2023-2024: Multiple negotiations between Warisan and PKR over GE16 Sabah seat allocations - 2024-2025: Public friction with PKR Sabah over overlapping constituency claims - 2025-2026: Succession question increasingly prominent as Shafie approaches 70
Ideology and Platform
Warisan's ideology blends three distinct strands: Sabah autonomy / MA63, multi-racial centrism, and anti-corruption / good governance. The party is generally positioned as centre to centre-left on economic policy, moderately conservative on social-religious issues, and assertively federalist (in the sense of demanding genuine federation, not centralised rule).
1. Sabah Autonomy and MA63
The central platform plank. Specific demands include: - Full implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (signed 9 July 1963; effective 16 September 1963) - Restoration of the 20-point safeguards for Sabah covering: - Religion (no state religion imposed on Sabah) - Language (English retained as official language alongside Malay) - Immigration (Sabah control over entry into Sabah - including from peninsular Malaysia) - Education (Sabah jurisdiction over education matters) - Civil service (Sabahans preferred in Sabah-based federal posts) - Borneonisation of federal departments in Sabah - Petroleum royalty: long-running demand to raise the federal payment from 5% of revenue to 20% (or, per some Warisan proposals, equity in Petronas operations within Sabah waters) - Recognition of Sabah as a co-founding partner of Malaysia rather than the 13th state - Sabah territorial waters jurisdiction (the continental shelf dispute)
2. Multi-Racial Centrism
- Party constitution explicitly multi-racial; open to Bajau, Suluk, KadazanDusun, Murut, Chinese, Indian, and other communities - Contrast with peninsula-based UMNO (Malay-only), MCA (Chinese-only), MIC (Indian-only) - Less explicit on race than DAP (which markets "Malaysian Malaysia") - Warisan's pitch is "Sabah for Sabahans"
3. Anti-Corruption and Good Governance
- Inherited from Shafie's post-1MDB exit from UMNO - Supports MACC autonomy strengthening - Sabah-state procurement transparency initiatives during 2018-2020 tenure - Generally consistent with the broader PH reform agenda but framed as Sabah-led rather than peninsula-led
4. Economic Policy
- Centrist; supports market economy with strong state role in resource sectors - Strong on rural development and smallholder agriculture (palm oil, fisheries) - Tourism-development emphasis (Semporna-Sipadan, Kinabalu, marine tourism) - Support for Pan-Borneo Highway and connectivity infrastructure - Petroleum-revenue-sharing reform as economic centrepiece
5. Religious and Social Policy
- Sunni Islam is dominant religion of Sabah Muslims; Warisan positions as moderate-pluralist - Defends religious freedom of non-Muslim Bumiputera (KadazanDusun Christians, etc.) - Generally opposes hudud-style PAS proposals at federal level - Less explicit on LGBT and other progressive social issues compared with DAP/PKR
6. Federal Relations
- Supportive of unity government (post-November 2022) without joining PH formally - Critical of any peninsula-only national policy that overrides Sabah/Sarawak interests - Generally aligned with GPS on autonomy questions despite GPS being in a different coalition
7. International / Cross-Border Issues
- Eastern Sabah security (Lahad Datu 2013 incursion legacy; cross-border issues with southern Philippines Sulu archipelago) - ESSCOM (Eastern Sabah Security Command) continued support - Cautious on policy toward undocumented residents and Suluk-Tausug cross-border communities
Current Leadership (2026)
President: Mohd Shafie Apdal
- Born 23 September 1957, Semporna, Sabah - MP for Semporna (continuous since approximately 1995) - Former UMNO Vice-President; founded Warisan 17 October 2016 - 15th Chief Minister of Sabah (12 May 2018 to 29 September 2020) - Sunni Muslim; Suluk ethnicity - Approximate age in May 2026: 68
Deputy President: Darell Leiking
- Born in Penampang, Sabah; KadazanDusun heritage - Former MP for Penampang - Former Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), 2 July 2018 to 24 February 2020 - Lost Penampang in GE15 (November 2022) - Represents the non-Muslim Bumiputera wing of the party
Vice-Presidents and Supreme Council (approximate, per party publications)
- The party Supreme Council includes vice-presidents drawn from major Sabah ethnic communities, secretary-general, treasurer, information chief, and bureau heads - Specific 2026 office-bearer list per Warisan AGMs (held approximately annually) - exact composition shifts election to election - The party traditionally seats representation from Bajau-Suluk, KadazanDusun, Murut, Chinese, and Indian communities
Secretary-General (approximate)
- Position has rotated among senior figures; recent Sec-Gens have included Loretto Padua Jr (KadazanDusun community) - exact 2026 incumbent per party Supreme Council notice
Wings
- Pemuda Warisan (Youth Wing) - led by a youth chief - Wanita Warisan (Women's Wing) - led by a women's chief - Persatuan Warisan branches at Sabah district level
Notable Sitting MPs (Federal, post-GE15)
- Mohd Shafie Apdal - MP for Semporna - Two other Sabah seats (Warisan held 3 federal seats post-GE15) - Specific MP names per the 19 November 2022 federal results
State Assembly Representation (post-2020 Sabah state election)
- Approximately 11-15 state assembly seats held by Warisan post-September 2020 election (working figure; exact post-defection numbers vary) - Sabah State Assembly total: 73 elected seats - Warisan is in opposition under MB Hajiji Noor (GRS)
Spokespersons and Public Faces
- Shafie Apdal - all major policy statements - Junz Wong - vocal Chinese-community-facing spokesperson - Darell Leiking - international and trade questions - Various MPs and assemblymen on Sabah-specific issues
Electoral Performance
Federal Parliamentary Performance (since 2018)
| Election | Date | Federal Seats Won | Total Contested | Coalition Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GE14 | 9 May 2018 | 8 | Sabah focus | Warisan + PH cooperation; not formal PH |
| GE15 | 19 Nov 2022 | 3 | Sabah + small peninsular contest | Confidence-and-supply ally of unity govt |
GE14 Federal Seat Distribution (Sabah, approximate)
- Semporna (Shafie Apdal) - won - Various other Sabah seats including Silam, Kalabakan-adjacent constituencies - Total: 8 federal seats from Sabah
GE15 Federal Seat Distribution (Sabah)
- Semporna (Shafie Apdal) - won, retained - Two additional Sabah seats - won - Peninsular contests (a handful of seats including KL-area constituencies) - all lost - Total: 3 federal seats
Sabah State Assembly Performance
| Election | Date | State Seats Won | Sabah Total | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabah 2018 | 9 May 2018 | 21 | 60 elected | Largest single party; led state govt |
| Sabah 2020 | 26 Sep 2020 | ~29-32 | 73 elected | Opposition; GRS won govt |
Note on the September 2020 numbers: Reported tallies vary slightly across sources because of post-election defections and assembly seat-count changes (60 elected pre-2020 redelineation; 73 elected from 2020 onwards). The widely cited Warisan-bloc result is approximately 32 seats for Warisan Plus (Warisan + DAP + PKR + UPKO) versus approximately 38 for GRS.
Vote-Share Context
- Sabah voter turnout GE14: approximately 75% - Sabah voter turnout September 2020 state election: approximately 66% (lower due to COVID-19 conditions) - Warisan's share of the Sabah popular vote in 2020: approximately 31-32% (per the working post-election analysis)
Notable By-Elections
- Various Sabah state by-elections 2018-2024 contested by Warisan; mixed outcomes reflecting state-level shifts toward GRS in some areas and Warisan retention in eastern Sabah
Peninsular Expansion (2020-2026)
- 2020: Constitutional amendments permit peninsular branches - 2021-2022: Branch launches in Klang Valley, Penang, Johor - GE15 (November 2022): Contested a handful of peninsular seats - all lost with low vote shares (typically below 5%) - As of 2026: Peninsular wing largely dormant; resources concentrated on Sabah defence
Sabah Political Context
Understanding Warisan requires understanding Sabah's distinctive political history - which differs sharply from peninsular Malaysia.
Sabah's Path Into Malaysia (1963)
- Sabah (then North Borneo) was a British colony from 1881 (British North Borneo Chartered Company) through World War II Japanese occupation and the 1946 Crown Colony period - 16 September 1963: Sabah joined the Federation of Malaysia alongside Malaya, Sarawak, and Singapore - The 20-point safeguards negotiated for Sabah (and 18-point for Sarawak) were intended to protect Sabah's distinctive religious, linguistic, and demographic character
The Demographic Question
- Sabah's population (approximately 3.9 million per latest estimates) includes large communities of: - KadazanDusun (approximately 24% of Bumiputera Sabah; predominantly Christian) - Bajau (approximately 14%; predominantly Muslim, including Sama-Bajau coastal communities) - Malay (Sabah) (approximately 6%) - Murut (approximately 3%) - Other Bumiputera including Suluk, Iranun, Bisaya, etc. - Chinese (approximately 9%) - Indian (small) - Non-citizen residents - a contested category, including substantial undocumented populations of Filipino and Indonesian origin - The "Project IC" controversy (1990s allegations that ICs were issued to non-citizens to alter Sabah's demographics) remains politically central
Major Political Movements in Sabah
- USNO (United Sabah National Organisation) - Mustapha Harun era, 1960s-1970s - BERJAYA (Parti Bersatu Sabah dissolved precursor) - Harris Salleh, late 1970s-1980s - PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah) - Joseph Pairin Kitingan, 1985 founding; Christian KadazanDusun-led; ruled Sabah 1985-1994 - UMNO Sabah - established 1991 after PBS-UMNO falling-out; dominated 1994-2018 - Warisan - 2016 founding, Shafie Apdal - GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) - 2020 coalition vehicle, Bersatu Sabah / PBS / STAR / SAPP / LDP
Federal-Sabah Friction Points (recurring)
- Petroleum royalty (5% vs 20%) - ESSCOM and east-coast security - Federal-vs-state immigration jurisdiction - The 20-point implementation - Sabah Chief Minister rotation systems (proposed and historical) - Borneonisation of federal positions
Current Sabah State Government (2026)
- Chief Minister: Hajiji Noor (Bersatu Sabah / GRS) - since 29 September 2020 - Yang di-Pertua Negeri: Tun Musa Aman (appointed January 2024, the same Musa Aman whose 2020 defection claim triggered the snap election) - Sabah State Assembly: 73 elected + nominated seats - Next Sabah state election: must be held by approximately September-November 2025 (state assembly term-expiry; assembly was elected September 2020 with a 5-year term); per recent practice, may be held alongside GE16 or earlier
Coalition Dynamics and the Unity Government
Warisan and Pakatan Harapan (2018-Present)
Warisan has consistently operated as a PH-adjacent rather than PH-component party. The distinction matters: - Formal PH components (2026): PKR, DAP, Amanah, UPKO (peninsular wing) - PH-adjacent / confidence-and-supply: Warisan (Sabah federal seats), MUDA (limited representation) - Unity government additional partners: BN (UMNO, MCA, MIC, PBRS), GPS (Sarawak), GRS (Sabah), KDM
The 2018-2020 PH-Warisan Arrangement
- Warisan ran the Sabah state government (Warisan + DAP + PKR + UPKO state coalition) - Warisan held the MITI federal portfolio (Darell Leiking) - Treated as a "PH-Plus" party - separate identity, parallel coordination - PKR Sabah occasionally contested seats overlapping with Warisan, creating friction
The 2020-2022 Opposition Period
- After Sheraton Move, Warisan was federally in opposition to PN - After September 2020 Sabah election loss, Warisan was in opposition at state level too - Continued to cooperate with PH on parliamentary opposition strategy
The November 2022 Government Formation
- GE15 (19 November 2022): Hung parliament - PH 82 seats; PN 74; BN 30; GPS 23; GRS 6; Warisan 3; others small - 24 November 2022: Anwar Ibrahim sworn in as 10th PM - Warisan provides confidence-and-supply support; not in cabinet
Friction Points with PKR
- 2023-2024: Multiple public disputes between PKR Sabah and Warisan over: - Federal seat allocations in Sabah for GE16 - Sabah state seat allocations (the parties contest each other in some constituencies) - Federal funding flows to Sabah opposition constituencies - PKR Sabah view: Warisan duplicates PKR's multi-racial reformist offering and should fold into PH - Warisan view: PKR is peninsula-led; Warisan must remain independent to credibly champion Sabah autonomy
GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) - the Sabah State Government Coalition
GRS comprises: - Bersatu Sabah (the largest GRS component pre-2024; the post-2024 picture is complicated by federal Bersatu turbulence) - PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah, Maximus Ongkili leadership) - STAR (Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, Jeffrey Kitingan) - SAPP (Sabah Progressive Party) - LDP (Liberal Democratic Party - small) - Hajiji Noor as Chief Minister since 29 September 2020
Warisan is the principal opposition to GRS at the Sabah state level. The dynamic resembles peninsular politics where the federal unity-government parties (PH-BN) are split at state level - in Sabah, federal unity-government partners (Warisan + PH) are jointly opposed to GRS (which is itself in the federal unity government via Bersatu-defectors-turned-independents and other arrangements). This creates a complex multi-layered alignment.
Comparison with GPS (Sarawak)
- GPS dominates Sarawak state government and provides crucial federal support (23 seats) to PM Anwar - GRS in Sabah is smaller (6 federal seats per GE15) and less cohesive - Warisan plays the role in Sabah that does not exist in Sarawak: a multi-racial state-centric party in opposition to the state-government coalition - See /gps-guide for the Sarawak parallel
Outlook for GE16 and Beyond
The GE16 Question (must be held by approximately November 2027)
Warisan's electoral prospects for GE16 depend on resolution of several open questions:
1. PH-Warisan Cooperation Pact
- Multiple negotiations in 2024-2025 between PKR Sabah and Warisan on a unified Sabah anti-GRS pact - Sticking points: seat allocation, candidate selection, branding (joint vs separate banner) - The 2018 model (parallel Sabah coalition + federal cooperation) is one template; full PH membership is another - As of mid-2026 the question remains formally unresolved
2. The Sabah State Election Timing
- The September 2020 Sabah state election produced a 5-year assembly term, expiring in September 2025 - A snap dissolution could be triggered earlier (e.g., to coincide with GE16) - As of May 2026, the Sabah state assembly remains in session per available information; the timing of the next state election (alongside GE16 or before) is a major strategic question for all Sabah parties - (Hedge: the user/reader should verify the latest dissolution status against current news)
3. Succession Within Warisan
- Shafie Apdal will be approximately 70 at GE16 - Darell Leiking as Deputy President is the obvious successor but lost his federal seat in GE15 - The next generation: Junz Wong, younger Warisan assemblymen, women's wing leaders - No clearly designated successor as of 2026
4. Peninsular Strategy
- The 2022 GE15 peninsular contest failed (zero seats) - Three strategic options: - Abandon peninsular ambitions entirely (concentrate Sabah) - Maintain symbolic peninsular contest but expect zero return - Refresh peninsular strategy with a fresh pitch (unlikely given resource constraints)
5. Petroleum Royalty and MA63 Wins
- The federal Anwar government has signalled willingness to negotiate on MA63 implementation - Specific royalty / equity outcomes during 2023-2026 could either bolster Warisan's case ("our advocacy delivered") or undermine it ("GRS in govt delivered, not Warisan in opposition")
Possible GE16 Outcomes for Warisan
- Best case: Joint PH-Warisan Sabah pact; Warisan retains 3-5 federal seats; possible return to Sabah state coalition government - Realistic case: Warisan retains 2-4 federal seats; remains Sabah state opposition; continues confidence-and-supply at federal level - Worst case: Warisan loses Semporna or loses ground to PKR Sabah; reduced to 1-2 federal seats; question of party viability
Long-Term Sustainability
The deeper question is whether Warisan can institutionalise beyond Shafie Apdal. Sabah's political history is littered with personalised vehicles (USNO under Mustapha, BERJAYA under Harris, PBS under Pairin) that struggled after their founders' departure. Warisan's post-Shafie viability is the central long-term question - and it remains unanswered as of 2026.
MA63 Anniversary (2028)
The 65th anniversary of the Malaysia Agreement falls on 16 September 2028. Multiple Sabah parties (Warisan, GRS components, KDM) are positioning to claim the autonomy mantle ahead of that date. Warisan's ability to maintain pole position on the MA63 narrative will significantly shape its GE16 result.
Criticisms and Controversies
1. Personality-Vehicle Critique
The most common criticism is that Warisan is a Shafie Apdal personal vehicle without independent institutional depth. Critics note: - No competitive presidential election in the party's history - Limited public visibility of Vice-Presidents and Supreme Council members - No clearly designated successor - Sabah's history of personality-vehicle parties (USNO, BERJAYA, PBS pre-1994) that struggled after founder departures
Warisan's defenders argue this reflects the typical centralisation of state-level Sabah politics rather than a Warisan-specific weakness, and that party institutions are gradually strengthening.
2. Project IC Allegations (historical)
During Shafie's UMNO years, some critics linked the broader UMNO Sabah leadership to the alleged 1990s "Project IC" scheme to issue ICs to non-citizens. Shafie has consistently denied any personal involvement and the 2014 Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on illegal immigrants in Sabah did not name him as a principal subject. (The RCI report was tabled in Parliament on 3 December 2014; see official RCI publications for details.)
3. 2020 Election Conduct
Some commentators argued that the 30 July 2020 dissolution of the Sabah State Assembly - rather than facing the Musa Aman defection claim via a confidence vote - was a strategic gamble that backfired electorally for Warisan. Warisan's position has been that the Yang di-Pertua Negeri's discretion was constitutionally proper and that the alternative (a confidence vote with disputed SDs) would have created worse instability.
4. Peninsular Expansion Critique
The 2020-2022 peninsular branch-launches and GE15 peninsular contests are widely viewed as a strategic misallocation of resources. The party's defenders argue the expansion was a long-term seeding effort rather than a GE15-specific bet.
5. Federal-Coalition Ambiguity
Critics across the spectrum note that Warisan's "PH-adjacent but not PH" stance creates strategic incoherence: - PKR Sabah: "Just join PH formally and end the duplication" - GRS / PN sympathisers: "You're effectively PH; stop pretending to be independent" - Warisan's defence: independence is necessary to credibly champion Sabah autonomy without peninsula-coordination dilution
6. East-Coast Security and Cross-Border Issues
Eastern Sabah (Semporna, Lahad Datu, Tawau) has long faced security challenges including the 2013 Lahad Datu incursion by armed followers of the Sulu Sultanate. Some critics in peninsular Malaysia have questioned whether Sabah-based parties (including Warisan, given Shafie's Suluk heritage) have been firm enough on cross-border community issues. Warisan's position has been to defend ESSCOM and the security architecture while emphasising humanitarian treatment of long-resident communities.
7. Petroleum Royalty Delivery
While Warisan campaigns on the 20% royalty demand, critics note that no Sabah-based party has successfully delivered that outcome despite multiple cycles of government participation. Warisan's defenders argue the 2018-2020 tenure made meaningful progress on royalty negotiations that were disrupted by the September 2020 election loss.
8. Press Coverage and Public Profile
Warisan does not command the same peninsula-based press coverage as PKR, DAP, or UMNO. Some criticisms suggest the party has under-invested in national communications. The party's defenders note that Sabah-state coverage (Daily Express, Borneo Post, New Sabah Times) is generally favourable and that peninsular under-coverage reflects structural peninsula-centric bias in Malaysian media rather than Warisan-specific weakness.
Sources & References
Data in this guide is cross-referenced against the following official sources.