Kota Kinabalu: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) Sabah President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G Kitingan says he is open to Parti Warisan’s proposal to form an alliance of Sabah-based parties as an alternative to the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
He said Star was studying all possibilities in depth, but declined to comment further on the speculation and rumours that have circulated widely in recent months.
Commenting on Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s statement on the proposed alliance, Jeffrey said discussions on cooperation among local parties were still ongoing, with all sides working to reach a common understanding before any decision was finalised.
He stressed the importance of presenting a united voice at the Federal level, saying Sabah MPs must have a sufficiently strong voice in Parliament to safeguard Sabah’s rights, Federal representation and the interests of the State’s indigenous people.
Jeffrey also addressed the possibility of working with parties that had previously been involved in controversies over illegal immigrants, noting that while he had strongly criticised Warisan over issues involving illegal immigrants, Project IC and migrant registration programmes, political decisions must be assessed in a broader context for Sabah’s long-term interests.
“We care about demographic changes and the rights of Sabah’s indigenous people, but will not reject any form of cooperation if it could deliver maximum benefits to the State,” he stressed.
