Warisan promises to set country on right path with national expansion
The Sabah-based Warisan today kicked off its national platform with a promise to set the country on the right path.
Warisan president Shafie Apdal (above), in his keynote speech, expressed concern about the country bickering over petty and divisive issues.
He promised to transition the...
The Sabah-based Warisan today kicked off its national platform with a promise to set the country on the right path.
Warisan president Shafie Apdal (above), in his keynote speech, expressed concern about the country bickering over petty and divisive issues.
He promised to transition the country from a political system of race and religion to inclusivity.
"Where did we go wrong? Where are we now? That is what worries me a lot.
"We need to set a path to allow structural changes in politics. There must be a transition from a racial and religious political system to more inclusive multiculturalism in the country.
"There must be a transition now. It cannot wait. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, we start today in Kuala Lumpur," he said at the launch of the party's national platform.
Shafie said many countries have done fine without race-based or religious-based parties.
"Malays won't die without Umno. Islam will not disappear without PAS, Chinese won't die without DAP," he said.
Shafie said the country engaging in racial and religious issues was dividing the nation.
In promoting Warisan's vision to be an inclusive platform, Shafie recalled being in London in the 1970s, practicing his Muslim faith as a minority alongside other students on campus.
"I was having fish and chips, drinking water. Someone else may be having something haram.
"It can't be haram for me to sit at the same table to eat my meal," he said, arguing that the same should happen in Malaysia among Malay-Muslims and others.
At the same time, he also reminded Muslims of their connection with Allah SWT in prayers, and the flexible nature of the religion.
"There is no need to publicly proclaim our faith. That is our promise to Allah SWT in every prayer.
"When will we realise the narrow way we are practicing our religion (in Malaysia)?
"Islam is not narrow. If we can't pray standing up, sit down. If we can't sit, lie down. It's flexible," he said, adding that the rigid situation in Malaysia had seen even the Malay name 'Timah' being made into a controversial topic.
Present at the event today were Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, representatives from Gerak Independent, lawyer Siti Kassim, and former Umno Sungai Benut MP Tawfik Ismail.
It was reported yesterday that Gerak Independent had announced six parliamentary candidates including Siti and Tawfik to contest the next 15th general elections.
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