The Penampang MP said many issues plaguing the nation still remain despite the signing of the agreement in September.

He said problems relating to race, religion and language continue to plague the nation contrary to the pledges made.

“Why are the issues still persisting? It is because the government knows it has subdued our colleagues in the federal opposition and this is sad,” he said at the opening of a joint annual meeting of Warisan’s Wanita, Youth and Young Women’s wings today.

He said: “Many PH leaders have told me and my Warisan colleagues that they are unhappy with the leaders for signing the MoU.”

Leiking had previously said Warisan leaders were steadfast behind their president Shafie Apdal in rejecting the MoU because they did not want to be a weakened opposition to the extent they become ineffective in their role as a check-and-balance.

The former international trade and industry minister contended that Warisan will be able to resolve these outstanding issues if it were to become part of the next ruling government because such problems did not exist in Sabah.

“We must be strong and strive to win a large number of seats in Parliament and become part of the government with whoever that wants to work with us after the election,” he said.

He implored the Warisan members to bring the party’s fighting spirit when it spreads its wings to West Malaysia. “We must go national because the people in the peninsula need leadership from Sabah. They need the leadership shown by Shafie who is humble yet innovative,” Leiking said.

He added that Warisan is not thinking of remaining as an opposition after the next general election. “We are better off being the government. We are not thinking of becoming the opposition but we will return to mainstream politics as part of the government,” he said.