Shafie taking a closer look at a material after launching the Borneo Textile Craft Festival at Suria Sabah on Sunday. Looking on are Mohamaddin (left) and Kraftangan Malaysia director general Ibrahim Ismail (second left).
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah is determined to help Pakatan Harapan (PH) end a by-election losing streak when DAP defends the Sandakan parliamentary seat next month.
Chief Minister and Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said that every constituency is different.
“If it rains there, it doesn’t mean it will rain here,” he said when asked to comment on Pakatan Harapan’s loss to Barisan Nasional in the Rantau by-election last Saturday and PH-Warisan’s approach of ensuring victory in the Sandakan by-election on May 11.
Umno acting president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan scored a convincing victory against anesthesiologist Dr Streram Sinnasamy (PH-PKR) in the Rantau by-election on Sunday. This was the third election loss for Pakatan Harapan in a row this year after the 14th general election.
“We cannot talk about the similarities. Sometimes, there are matters close to the voters’ hearts that are quite different with voters in another place. We also have to look into this and we must adjust our approach to synchronize with the preferences.
“It is not easy, but we will put in the effort and I cannot say 100% but we will try,” he explained after launching the Borneo Textile Craft Festival at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall here yesterday.
PH is expected to announce the candidate for the Sandakan by-election soon which is called following the sudden death of its member of parliament, Datuk Stephen Wong.
Shafie admitted that the process of creating opportunities in general has not been ‘quite as fast’ as expected by the people. However, he assured that investments from outside and within the country will be increased at a certain period of time.
“I have already discussed with the party leadership at the involved level that the (Sandakan parliamentary) seat belongs to DAP. I have discussed with (Federal Finance Minister and National DAP secretary general) Lim Guan Eng and stated the steps that will be taken,” he said.
He reminded that the economic situation and debts left to be solved by the government of today were inherited from the previous ruling coalition.
“We need to face and overcome the (problems) that the previous government leaders were responsible and to remember these conditions,” he said.
“Plans have been prepared. It might take a little while but we will explain this to the residents in the Sandakan constituency,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Shafie said local textile entrepreneurs must increase productivity to meet market demands and ensure that their products expand globally.
He said local textile products were good and of high quality, but the fashion and designs must include modern elements and fulfill market demands.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew who is also Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, as well as Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi.