KOTA KINABALU, Oct 7 — Fresh from leaving the governing Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has announced that the party will contest the upcoming 17th Sabah state election under its own banner and called for a fully Sabahan movement.
Declaring the move part of a push for self-determination to reclaim Sabah’s political autonomy and dignity, Kitingan said the state must be governed by “true sons and daughters of the soil” — patriotic Sabahans committed to protecting its dignity and autonomy.
“Sabah must be led by Sabahans who love this land, not by weak leaders, traitors, or parties that take instructions from Malaya,” he said in a statement late last night.
Kitingan, a long-time advocate of state rights, said the decision for Star to go solo was based on principle rather than power, arising from long-standing frustrations over unfulfilled promises of autonomy and development under successive federal and coalition arrangements.
“For decades, Sabahans have been fed promises of autonomy, development and restoration of rights — promises that were never fulfilled.
“Many have shouted about Sabah’s rights but failed to honour their words. They speak of justice, yet bow to masters far from our soil. Sabah deserves better,” he said.
He said Star’s mission is to build a “Sabah for Sabahans,” developing an economy that prioritises local farmers, workers, traders, small businesses and youth instead of enriching political elites.
‘Sabah for Sabahans’ movement
Kitingan also unveiled a new coalition effort called Team S4S (Sabah for Sabahans), which he described as a “new Sabah movement” aimed at uniting local-based parties and leaders who share the goal of forming a government “fully led by Sabahans.”
“This is not merely a political campaign, but a new chapter in Sabah’s journey toward dignity and true justice,” he said.
He added that the movement has already drawn interest from local leaders and would eventually expand to the national level with Team S4S for Parliament 2027, ensuring Sabah’s voice is represented both in the state assembly and in Parliament.
While Star remains open to post-election cooperation with peninsula-based parties, Kitingan stressed that such partnerships must be based on mutual respect and equality — not subservience.
“Any cooperation must be founded on genuine partnership within Malaysia and must never compromise Sabah’s rights or autonomy,” he said.
Kitingan also urged Sabahans to unite against what he described as a “colonial mentality” that continues to treat the state as a dependent territory and drains its natural wealth.
