From Water to Wine: Real Change in Sabah Starts Now

A few days ago, after reigniting my call for Warisan Sabah—the true Sabah-first movement ready to claim all 73 seats and break free from federal interference—I stumbled on a post that hit me like a wave from the South China Sea.

 

It was Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s LinkedIn note about gifting Rafizi Ramli the book Run Zohran Run!, the story of Zohran Mamdani’s rise from underdog to New York City mayor-elect. Nikmi draws a bold line from New York to Kuala Lumpur: if Malaysian reformers don’t rediscover their courage—speak plainly, act boldly—we’ll be swept aside like forgotten promises.

Why I Write

My last two posts weren’t just rants from a frustrated Sabahan new to politics. In Water into Wine, I exposed the tricksters in Putrajaya and Kota Kinabalu—those “devils in disguise” peddling fake progress while siphoning off our oil money and dreams. In Warisan: The Sabah-First Powerhouse, I laid out why Shafie Apdal’s team isn’t just another party. It’s a dam against the flood of federal control, promising free education, digital jobs, and our rightful 40% revenue share—from the Kadazan-Dusun hills to the Bajau shores.

 

The Real Risk

But here’s the hard truth: all this energy—my voice, your shares, our momentum—means nothing if we lose the heart of it.

 

Nikmi’s post struck a chord. Zohran didn’t win by playing it safe. He won by standing firm, speaking truth, and backing every word with action. People didn’t show up for polished ads—they came for raw honesty: “This is me. This is my fight. No excuses.”

 

That’s what Sabah needs. That’s what Malaysia needs.

 

Teh Tarik Politics Won’t Cut It

Yes, the Madani government has delivered some wins—budget tweaks, anti-corruption nods—but it’s like serving watered-down teh tarik when people are parched for the real thing.

 

Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan rose on the backs of ordinary Malaysians, sparked by the KEADILAN fire that Rafizi and Nikmi lit when joining the opposition felt like jumping off a cliff. Remember that? Taking on Barisan Nasional when it seemed impossible? That was the real crazy—the leap that turned long shots into half-kept promises.

 

Now, Rafizi’s nod to Run Zohran Run! isn’t just a nice gesture. It’s a reminder. When he and Nikmi faced possible defeat in May’s party polls, they chose integrity over comfort. When asked, “Isn’t it crazy to start over after being ministers?” Rafizi replied, “We’ve done crazy before. Joining KEADILAN back then? Way crazier.”

 

That’s the kind of realness Sabahans crave—not Hajiji-Noor’s DBKK director’s smoke-and-mirrors “water to wine” stunts, but bold moves like Shafie Apdal leaving UMNO to build Warisan, or the Black Wave independents shaking up 17 seats with no room for old tricks.

 

Do We Still Believe?

Absolutely. We believe in:

 

Fairness that doesn’t bow to “Little Napoleons” or big-shot cronies

 

Clean government that puts dignity in every Sabahan’s wallet—not just the well-connected

 

An inclusive economy where our kids build climate-smart farms in Semporna and tech hubs in Tawau, instead of fleeing to the mainland

 

But belief without action? That’s just noise.

 

The Stakes Are Real

We can’t take our base—or the 80% of young voters still undecided—for granted. Tony Blair’s Labour Party learned that the hard way: get complacent, and someone else takes your place. Reform UK did it there. A recycled BN scandal machine could do it here.

 

Sabah’s November 29 vote isn’t a warm-up. It’s the real test.

 

Warisan’s full candidate list drops this week—not to grab power, but to grab the fight. Pair that with the Black Wave’s grit, and we’ve got a team that tells it straight: Sabah Maju Jaya, no holding back.

 

So What’s the “Crazy” Move?

For me, it’s this blog—turning quiet thoughts into a loud call for change.

 

For you?

 

Sign up at warisan.com.my

 

Boost Verdon Bahanda’s independents on X

 

Talk to your uncle at the next family gathering about why PKR’s “outsiders” don’t cut it

 

Realness starts small: a share, a vote, a voice saying, “No more waiting.”

 

Sabahans. Malaysians. We owe you the truth. It won’t be easy—big things never are. But if Zohran can flip New York from the margins, imagine what we can unlock here.

 

Let’s turn this stale water—broken promises, federal neglect—into the wine of real freedom.

 

Who’s in?