KOTA KINABALU, Oct 6 — Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan said he respected the decision of five of his party’s state assemblymen who chose to remain with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), emphasising that everyone must act according to their own conscience.
Kitingan said he was not surprised by their choice and remained confident in his principles.
“I respect the decision of the five STAR leaders who have chosen to remain with GRS. Each person must act according to his conscience. I have seen this before and I am not surprised,” he said in a statement today.
The deputy chief minister said he was unfazed by their move, noting that walking alone in politics was nothing new for him.
“In my life, I have often walked alone. There is nothing new about this. What matters is not how many walk beside me, but whether the path is right and that I stay on that path,” he said.
“Some may take the easier road, but I will continue on the one that leads to justice for Sabah.”
Kitingan said his political struggle has never been about personal gain or comfort, but about fighting for Sabah’s unfulfilled rights.
“This struggle has never been about position or comfort. It is about dignity, fairness and the unfulfilled hopes of Sabahans who deserve better,” he said, adding that his mission remains unchanged — to stand up for Sabah and serve its people “with honesty and courage.”
“Those who chose another direction remain my friends and I wish them well. My duty, however, is clear. The struggle continues, and in the end, the people will decide,” he said.
He described the upcoming state election as a defining moment for Sabah’s future.
“This state election will be a referendum for Sabah — whether we remain subservient to Malaya or stand free and independent,” he said.
STAR deputy presidents Datuk Ellron Angin (Sook) and Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan), along with state assemblymen Datuk Annuar Ayub (Liawan) and Datuk Flovia Ng (Tulid), had earlier said they would remain in GRS despite the party leaving the coalition.
GRS secretary-general Datuk Masidi Manjun said that STAR was no longer a member of the coalition, having declared their intention to contest under their own logo.
Ellron confirmed his support for GRS and said the group hoped to contest under the coalition banner.
He added that Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Robert Tawik (Bingkor) was part of their group but was absent at the event due to health reasons.
STAR’s decision to break away from GRS came after a dispute over the coalition’s proposed electoral cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH), a move Kitingan said went against the wishes of grassroots members who wanted locally led representation.
