SANDAKAN: The term “traditional seat” in Sabah is not stopping Parti Warisan from contesting all seats in the upcoming state election, as Warisan has taken over stronghold seats before, says Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

In the case of the Sungai Sibuga seat, which has been under Umno for 31 years, including 26 years under former Sabah chief minister and now head of state Tun Musa Aman, the Warisan president said nothing was impossible as long as there are continuous efforts by the party to engage with the grassroots community.

“InsyaAllah (we can win this seat). But we have to work hard. You cannot earn something if you don’t work hard. We get close to the rakyat. If I could toppe Umno that was based in Tawau, Semporna, and in Lahad Datu, why not here?” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after the Majlis Bersama Rakyat programme in Sungai Kayu and Batu Putih, Mile 7, here, Saturday (Aug 30).

Shafie said he had told the peninsula-based parties, “Enough is enough, let us manage. We know better what Sabah wants and needs.”

Sungai Sibuga, long regarded as a symbolic Umno stronghold, has been under the party’s control since 1994, first held by Musa for 26 years before he was succeeded by Datuk Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain, who passed away in January this year.

While the seat remains significant for Umno, Shafie said voter sentiment is shifting across Sabah as communities demand better infrastructure, secure land rights, and equal access to basic services.

“Local leaders understand the realities here better than anyone else. It’s time policies reflect the priorities of Sabahans, not outsiders,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shafie also pledged to address long-standing land ownership issues affecting Batu Putih and nearby settlements, promising a full review of parcels involving Ko-Nelayan, the Sabah Housing and Town Development Authority (LPPB), and private companies.

“I will investigate thoroughly who owns the land here and ensure the people are protected. These are Sabahans, not foreigners. Any development plans must include the community, not evict them,” he said.

He said Warisan would prioritise the gazettement of long-settled kampungs to give residents legal recognition and improve access to basic amenities such as water, electricity, and schools.

During his 20-month tenure as chief minister, Shafie said Warisan issued about 2,300 land titles in Keningau and around 500 in Tambunan, and distributed titles to residents in other districts including Tawau and Kalabakan.

“We’ve done it before, and we can do it again,” he said.