Led by the village security and development committee (JKKK) chairman of Kampung Tambun Laut, Ismail Diman, they handed their forms to Warisan president Shafie Apdal at a meet-the-people session here.
Shafie claimed the defections showed they were unhappy with BN because those in rural areas had been neglected since the coalition took over Sabah more than 20 years ago.
“In the rural areas of Sabah, the people are crying out for change,” he said in a statement.
“People come to Prime Minister Najib Razak’s events because they are given rice, sugar, outboard motors and other goodies.
“Here today, in spite of the rain and in spite of me bearing no gifts to lure you all, you have come out in droves to support Warisan.
“I feel for you. I understand your situation. When Warisan comes into power, all this will change. I will make sure my wakil rakyat will serve you as you rightly deserve.”
Shafie, who is also Semporna MP, told those present not to be fooled by more promises from BN leaders who kept saying the people must vote BN for development.
“But do you still want to vote for such people when they have done nothing for you?”
He said if the people did not opt for change now, they would continue to suffer for the next five years while the BN leaders became richer.
Shafie also questioned why leaders such as Deputy Chief Minister Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili had failed to fight for Sabah rights.
He said he was taken aback by Najib’s remarks in Kiulu recently that if the people returned BN candidates in Tuaran, more roads would be built in the constituency.
“BN’s development projects now come with conditions?”
Shafie said Warisan’s promise to the people in the northern part of Sabah was that it would build a deep water port in Kudat to take advantage of the heavy sea traffic in the region.
With such a port, there would be many spin-off activities in the service and manufacturing industries, which would create job opportunities, he said.
“People in Kudat and Kota Marudu will no longer have to go to Kuala Lumpur to earn a livelihood. There will be plenty of jobs here and trading will also flourish.”
Shafie said Warisan was not worried that many parties were expected to contest in the general election.
He said the people were politically mature and would know which party was capable of forming the government.
“I’m sure they will not vote for those parties that can only return one assemblyman to the state assembly and are incapable of toppling BN.
“Warisan can contest in all the seats if we want to but we will work with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
“The reason why veteran leaders like Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang have come together to take on BN is because they want to save the country.”
Shafie said he too loved Sabah and wanted to save the state from further misery. This was why he gave up a comfortable job in the federal cabinet by questioning Najib’s policies.
Among those who joined Warisan on Sunday were the former exco of Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah in Kota Marudu, members of STAR as well as Maklin Monsiou, a Sabah rights activist from Pitas.
Also present were Paul Voon, former deputy president of Parti Cinta Sabah, VK Liew, former president of LDP, Ahmad Shah Tambakau, former deputy minister during Berjaya’s time, and Ibrahim Menudin, former Sabah Umno treasurer.
Include Sabah’s 13 new seats, says Warisan ahead of Dewan Rakyat debate