Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan has vowed to continue his political journey for Sabah’s rights despite five of his party’s assemblymen choosing to remain with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). The veteran leader said he respected their decision, adding that every politician must act according to personal conscience and conviction.
Kitingan expressed no surprise at their choice, stating that solitude in politics is something he has long embraced. He reflected that walking alone was never a new experience, and what mattered most was staying true to the right path, even when it meant facing challenges without the crowd’s support. To him, the real test was not about numbers, but about remaining steadfast in the pursuit of fairness and justice for Sabah.
He reaffirmed that his political mission had never been driven by ambition or comfort but by an enduring desire to restore Sabah’s dignity and long-denied rights. Kitingan underlined that his struggle was rooted in principle — one that sought equality, autonomy, and the fulfilment of promises made to Sabahans since the formation of Malaysia.
The Deputy Chief Minister made it clear that those who chose to stay with GRS would remain his friends, and he bore no ill will toward them. However, his duty, he said, was to continue the fight for the people, even if it meant doing so independently. He expressed confidence that the upcoming state election would serve as a turning point, describing it as a referendum on Sabah’s future — a choice between continued subservience or a stronger, self-reliant state.
Five STAR assemblymen — Datuk Ellron Angin (Sook), Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan), Datuk Annuar Ayub (Liawan), Datuk Flovia Ng (Tulid), and Datuk Robert Tawik (Bingkor) — have confirmed their allegiance to GRS despite STAR’s withdrawal from the coalition. GRS secretary-general Datuk Masidi Manjun later confirmed that STAR’s decision to use its own party logo effectively removed it from the coalition.
The split followed tensions within the alliance over GRS’s plan to cooperate with Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the coming elections — a move Kitingan claimed contradicted the wishes of STAR’s grassroots, who wanted Sabah’s leadership to remain locally driven and independent of federal influence.
As the political realignments unfold, Kitingan’s message remained clear: alliances may shift, but his commitment to Sabah’s cause — and the struggle for justice, dignity, and autonomy — remains unshaken.
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