Kuala Lampur, Jan. 19 -- Parti Warisan Sabah's exaggerated attempts to highlight the leadership of president and state chief minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal led to Pakatan Harapan ally's defeat in the Kimanis by-election, a think-tank said today.

Terengganu Strategic and Integrity Institute (TSIS) chief executive Wan Mat Sulaiman said Shafie was far from achieving the "big man" level in Sabah politics as the one that stood out the most in Kimanis was its former elected representative, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman.

"Warisan's position as a ruling party also failed to provide additional advantages to its candidate because the majority of voters were not influenced by cash handouts, contributions and development promises, economy and state issu...