Shafie also said Warisan, which recently extended its wings to the peninsula, remained strong and would continue to defend the fate of all races nationwide, especially those in Sabah.

He said Warisan would remain a multiracial party.

“Warisan will continue to fight issues related to the rights of Sabah and Sarawak over fair wealth distribution and oil royalty,” he said in a statement.

Yesterday, Peter, a former Warisan vice-president and state infrastructure development minister, told a press conference he had resigned to form a new party “to reduce political conflict in Sabah”.

The new party would be friendly to the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.

He said he left Warisan as the party had strayed from its true path, which was to fight for the people of Sabah, and expanded to the peninsula.

But Shafie disagreed, stating the decision “will only further divide Sabahans”.

He criticised Peter’s statement that his new party would cooperate with GRS which, he said, contradicted his actions as the coalition consisted of both national and local parties.

He said Warisan’s decision to expand to the peninsula was a step towards offering options to all voters nationwide.

Shafie expressed disappointment that Juil Nuatim, another Warisan assemblyman, had quit the party yesterday, adding that it was “unfortunate as he was being influenced by Peter” to leave Warisan.

On Dec 13, Peter was ordered by the sessions court to enter his defence on a charge of using false documents relating to a system maintenance contract seven years ago.