Kitingan confirms resignation of five Star reps backing GRS

Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Jeffrey Kitingan has confirmed the termination of membership for five incumbent assemblypersons who declared their support for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).

Kitingan told reporters yesterday that the Star supreme council had received and accepted the five leaders’ resignations from the party.

“They have automatically lost their Star party membership,” the Keningau MP said briefly, according to a video uploaded on his Facebook page today.

He also said that the party positions vacated by the five will be temporarily held by their deputies.

The five incumbents hold various top positions in Star, including Ellron Angin (Sook) and Robert Tawik (Bingkor), who are deputy presidents. The others are Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan), Annuar Ayub (Liawan) and Flovia Ng (Tulid).

‘Nothing new’

On Monday, Sabah caretaker chief minister Hajiji Noor confirmed that the five had chosen to stand with GRS in a move that distanced them from Kitingan following Star’s automatic expulsion from the coalition due to its insistence on contesting the state election using its own logo.

Kitingan later said the decision by the five incumbents is “nothing new,” noting that while he respects their decision, he has seen such developments in his political journey.

The five incumbents’ move, however, raises questions about Kitingan’s hold over his party and whether he will be forced to find replacement candidates for their seats.

It remains unclear if the five will be fielded as official GRS candidates in the coming polls.

Kitingan also told reporters yesterday that Star’s supreme council meeting had discussed preparations for Sabah’s upcoming 17th state election, with matters discussed including the party’s manifesto and campaign machinery.

He added that the party is planning to launch a “Justice for Sabah” programme, which he said could potentially take place on Oct 18.

Without naming the parties in question, Kitingan said Star is open to collaborating with three other local parties for the election.

“I haven’t announced anything…maybe after we meet them (and) see what is in their hearts,” he said.

Kitingan and several GRS leaders are also grappling with corruption allegations linked to state mineral exploration projects.

Two of the five Star incumbents – Ellron and Tawik – are accused of taking bribes from businessperson Albert Tei, though Ellron has denied the charges.

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