KOTA KINABALU, Oct 6 — Deputy president of Parti Solidariti Tanahairku (STAR), Datuk Ellron Angin, along with three other STAR state assemblymen, have declared their continued support for the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, according to GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji revealed that the assemblymen personally informed him of their decision to back GRS following STAR president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan’s announcement last week to withdraw the party from the coalition.
“They have informed me directly that they support GRS,” Hajiji said during a special press conference at Menara Kinabalu today.
Apart from Ellron, who is the state assemblyman for Sook, the three others are Datuk Flovia Ng (Tulid), Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan) and Datuk Annuar Ayub (Liawan).
Hajiji said this after announcing the dissolution of the 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly to make way for the 17th State Election, which was consented to by Sabah Governor Tun Musa Aman.
The Sabah State Assembly has 73 contested seats.
Last Thursday, GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun announced that STAR and Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) would contest the upcoming State Election using their respective party logos rather than the GRS symbol.
The move effectively places both parties outside of the GRS coalition, following a decision by the GRS Presidential Council that any component party contesting under its own logo will no longer be part of the coalition.
When asked if GRS, particularly its component party Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), would face candidates from STAR and SAPP in the upcoming election, Hajiji expressed confidence that the coalition is well-positioned to compete. — Bernama
