Hamzah Abdullah said the arrest could spark a backlash, as well as backfire on Barisan Nasional (BN).
“Believe me when I say, Sabahans are used to a change in government. And this time, the 25 BN seats they consider as fixed deposits, will become BN’s nightmare.
“Sabah helped save BN in the last general election. And this time, the people of Sabah will continue its agenda to change the Umno-BN government,” he said when debating party president Mohamad Sabu’s policy speech at the convention here today.
Hamzah said the incident involving Shafie was similar to one that occurred in 1985. He was referring to how Parti Bersatu Sabah was formed in 1985 by then state minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who broke ranks with Parti Berjaya president and chief minister Harris Salleh.
Hamzah said Joseph, who was victimised, subsequently left and formed PBS, with the slogan Sabah for Sabahans.
“The people gave him the mandate and he won. And the party he was with previously, was toppled,” he said.
Shafie, who has been Semporna MP since 1995, quit Umno where he was vice-president in July last year to form Warisan.
He was arrested by the MACC yesterday as part of its probe into the alleged misappropriation of RM1.5 billion in funds from rural development projects in Sabah.
Hamzah also said Shafie’s arrest was an indication that Warisan could not stand on its own in their struggle, and that Amanah will continue to court them to join Pakatan Harapan in the state.