Warisan deputy president Ignatius Darell Leiking says STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan’s decision to pull his party out of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) while retaining positions and interests in the state government is “unusual”.
He urged Jeffrey to immediately relinquish his roles as Deputy Chief Minister II and agriculture and fisheries minister if he no longer intends to work with GRS.
“He has the right to decide for his party. But if he only disagrees with GRS president Hajiji Noor’s decision to cooperate with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the state election, shouldn’t he take a more serious step? For example, resign from his ministerial post instead of taking a halfway stance,” he said on Saturday.
Leiking also questioned Jeffrey’s rationale for leaving GRS over alleged objections to collaborating with parties from outside Sabah while “still having people from across the sea” in their WhatsApp group.
He added that even within the cabinet, questions have arisen as there are ministers from peninsula-based parties such as Umno, despite their parties not being in formal cooperation with the state government.
Asked about support from the KadazanDusunMurutRungus (KDMR) community and the West Coast, Leiking said Warisan does not want to be seen as leaning toward any particular community or region.
“Warisan was built on support from all segments of society, including KDMR. Unity among Sabahans of various races must be prioritised,” he said, urging people to reject divisive sentiments and uphold harmony and mutual respect.
“For too long, we have been made to think along racial lines. Let us now build collective support regardless of race, with unity as the key to shared goals.”
