Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Jeffrey Kitingan has confirmed that the party has accepted the resignations of five senior leaders who chose to support Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), effectively ending their roles within STAR.
“The STAR Supreme Council met recently and accepted their resignations,” Kitingan announced in a video posted on his Facebook page. He clarified that the resignations automatically stripped the leaders of their positions in the party.
Defection to GRS
On Monday, STAR deputy president Ellron Alfred Angin, alongside vice-presidents Abidin Madingkir, Annuar Ayub, and Flovia Ng, publicly declared their continued support for GRS. The quartet joined Chief Minister Hajiji Noor at a press conference where he announced the dissolution of the state assembly, setting the stage for the 17th Sabah election.
Ellron later revealed that another deputy president, Robert Tawik, would also remain aligned with GRS for the upcoming polls.
The defections follow STAR’s decision to exit the GRS coalition, prompted by Kitingan’s opposition to GRS’s ongoing electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan. He argued that the arrangement contradicted grassroots demands for stronger local representation in Sabah’s leadership.
STAR’s Election Preparations
During the Supreme Council meeting, STAR also focused on its strategy for the impending state election. Kitingan outlined plans to launch a campaign programme titled “Justice for Sabah,” tentatively scheduled for October 18. The initiative aims to rally support around the party’s manifesto and campaign efforts.
Kitingan hinted at potential collaborations with other local parties, including the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and possibly three others, though he did not disclose their identities. “Once we meet with them, we’ll better understand their true intentions,” he remarked, signaling ongoing discussions to forge alliances ahead of the polls.
