KOTA KINABALU: The five Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) heavyweights who have parted ways with their president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, are poised to retain their seats at the Sabah state election.
They are Datuk Ellron Angin (Sook) who is also STAR deputy president, Datuk Annuar Ayub Aman (Liawan), Datuk Robert Tawik (Bingkor), Datuk Flovia Ng (Tulid) and Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan).
Ellron confirmed their stance after the announcement of the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor who is also GRS chairman at Menara Kinabalu on Monday (October 6).
All five were opposed to Dr Jeffrey’s decision to leave Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to go solo in the election and vehemently declared their support for GRS.
“Their decision may not go down well with the party president and their party comrades but it is inevitable and a wise one.
“”And, it is never a betrayal. They are just being sagacious,” says GRS supreme council member Datuk Dr Yee Mohd Chai.
He says Ellron, Annuar, Robert, Flovia and Abidin had been working hard and served their constituents well since elected.
“Their performance is something to write home about. No publicity, no cameras – just a sense of responsibility – over the past five years to help those desperately in need of assistance, not headlines,” adds Dr Yee who is also a Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president and former Deputy Chief Minister.
PBS is a component party of GRS
And, he also says they are winnable candidates and the importance of fielding such candidates cannot be overstated. This is the overriding consideration.
“I believe their supporters and voters who backed them at the ballot box five years ago will again place their faith in them,” he says matter-of-factly.
And, what remains to be seen is whether their die-hard supporters will follow in their footsteps.
It is learned that these five leaders were consulted twice on the planned exit from GRS but they did not agree and their views were cast aside.
They did not see any reasonable grounds to leave a stable coalition which they have part of since 2020.
It has emerged that they are likely apply to become direct members of GRS and contest under the coalition’s banner if they are picked for re-election.
“But, I am confident all of them will be fielded again in that as entrenched incumbents, they are more difficult to beat,” Dr Yee says.
These five leaders have already tendered their resignation letters.
Meanwhile, he points out that a strong mandate for GRS is crucial for continued progress and stability, henceforth enabling effective governance.
“I am confident that stability under the GRS-led government since 2020 has won voter approval,” Dr Yee says.
