Sabah STAR’s exit from GRS in line with call to go solo, says party info chief

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR’s decision to leave the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition was in line with the overwhelming call for the local coalition to go solo in the state election, the party’s information chief Anuar Ghani said.

He said the delegates at the Sabah STAR-Parti Bersatu Sabah convention July 12 made it very clear for GRS to go solo and rejected any political alignment with outside parties like Pakatan Harapan.

“Yet, in a breathtaking display of political deafness, PBS has ignored this overwhelming, earth-shaking chorus of unity from the very grassroots they claim to serve.

“PBS has still not explained why it has chosen to ignore the voice of the people which was loud and clear.

“Is this a decision by a few leaders in PBS or a decision taken in a vote by the Supreme Council?

“PBS and the STAR members and the whole of the (ethnic) Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus community have a right to know,” Anuar said.

He was responding to PBS information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai’s hope to meet up with Sabah STAR in efforts to work out a solution over the two parties memorandum of understanding to focus on the state and the non-Muslim bumiputera issues.

Bangkuai said that whilst both parties were in separate camps now, there was a possibility of them discussing the issues targeted to be resolved under the April 16, 2024 MOU for the need of their people to unite, cooperate and collaborate to help find solutions for issues faced by the people.

Anuar said that Sabah STAR was open to a dialogue if PBS is serious about the MOU which also has a clause to dissolve or suspend by mutual agreement.

“At all times, STAR continues to firmly believe in and hold on to the fulfilment and solutions to the issues of interest affecting the people and the state of Sabah under the MOU,” he said, adding that it focuses on core issues faced in the state.

On the issue of allocation of seats between the two parties, Anuar said that there were no agreements, though negotiations and allocations were held but never finalised.

Sabah STAR, led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), led by Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, left the GRS coalition on Oct 1, five days before the dissolution of the Sabah assembly.

The duo were against GRS working with Pakatan Harapan as the public sentiment was for local party.