'New Sabah party will not have any impact on UMNO'

Newly formed Sabah political party Parti Warisan Sabah will not have any impact on UMNO's strength in the state, said Gerakan Akar Umbi UMNO Malaysia chairman Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar.

The grassroots leader, in a statement today, said the new party was in fact a blessing for UMNO as it would only serve to erode the support for DAP and PKR because most of the leaders of the two opposition parties in the state had bid "adious" to join the new party.

Yesterday, former UMNO vice president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had announced that the Registrar of Societies had given its approval to rename Parti Pembangunan Warisan Sabah which was formed in 2013 to Parti Warisan Sabah and also its new logo.

Mohd Shafie said the party would serve as his platform to take on UMNO in the state in the coming 14th general election.

Meanwhile, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Humanities, Arts and Heritage Faculty senior lecturer Dr Zaini Othman said Barisan Nasional should not take ligthly the new party.

"It cannot be denied the BN has an excellent track record in Sabah but should not let this to lull it into complacency. The BN must keep staying ahead of the competition," he said when asked for his comments on the new development. -- Bernama