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 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 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 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.