Kota Kinabalu: "Enough is enough, how long must Sabah be ruled, divided and laughed at?” That was the fiery declaration of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who vowed to reset the party’s direction after five of its assemblymen quit the party.
Speaking to reporters at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) Tuesday, Jeffrey said the five assemblymen had made their choice and Star would not stop them.
“They made their decision. I didn’t stop them because they know what stand they should take,” he said.
“If they no longer listen to the people’s voice or respect the people’s sentiment, then let the rakyat decide their fate.”Jeffrey said the Star leadership will meet today (Wednesday) to determine the official status of the five and discuss who will replace them.
“I gave them one week to make up their minds,” he said.
“There are many who are ready to take over. This might be the right time to bring in young, loyal fighters and refresh the party.”Jeffrey said Star’s next move will be guided by the voice of the people, not political alliances.
“We are open to cooperation, but this election must be fought on the sentiment of the people, ‘Sabah for Sabahan, Justice for Sabah’.
“This is our home and we must take care of it. For 62 years, we’ve been laughed at even though we are rich.” Asked if Star will clash with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the coming state election, Jeffrey said: “In any election, the people are in power. They decide. So yes, clashes are normal, that's democracy.” He confirmed that Star will contest 73 seats, the same as other major parties and hinted that the seats previously given to the defectors will go to new, more committed candidates.
He dismissed speculation that the five defectors reflect grassroots dissatisfaction, saying Star’s exit from GRS was precisely because it listened to the ground.
“We left GRS because we heard the people, in coffee shops, online, everywhere,” he said.
“We can’t go against the people’s sentiment. They will decide who’s right after the election.”On Star’s partnership with the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Jeffrey said the alliance remains firm.
“Of course, this has been our team from the start. Seat allocations are settled, everything steady. This struggle has been long,” he said.
Asked if Star is open to working with other local opposition parties, including Warisan or the so-called "Black Wave", Jeffrey didn’t rule it out.
“As I’ve said before, we should unite with other local parties, look at Sarawak, when they united, they became strong and got what they wanted. That’s the power of unity. Who says Sabah can’t do the same?” he said.