Commenting on a view expressed by Lee Kuok Tiung of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Warisan secretary-general Loretto Padua Jr said the question of benefiting at a partner’s expense never arose in any of his party’s past alliances.

“We want to work with PBS because the party has a history of fighting for the same things we do,” Padua told FMT.

He said Warisan was open to working with any party but would take the prospective ally’s struggles and strengths into consideration.

“There’s no point in working with a party that cannot perform, like during the Warisan-Plus era,” he said, declining to name the party he was referring to.

After the 14th general election, Warisan spearheaded the Warisan-Plus Sabah government that had DAP, PKR and Upko as its other members.

Warisan president Shafie Apdal has repeatedly expressed interest in working with PBS, saying he considered the party’s ideals to be in line with those of Warisan.

PBS president Maximus Ongkili has said the party was ready to work with any party, including Warisan, if it benefitted Sabahans.

PBS is presently in the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition along with Bersatu, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno).