RANAU: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) President, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, delivered a major address outlining the party’s strategic direction, internal organizational reforms, and an unyielding commitment to enforcing Sabah’s constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Speaking at the STAR 10th Anniversary Roadshow (Jelajah) held at the Rimbunan Hijau Residence in Kampung Silou, Ranau, Dr. Jeffrey emphasized that post-election setbacks serve as a catalyst for a comprehensive internal audit, party consolidation, and targeted political strategy ahead of future electoral cycles.
He said STAR has launched a national 100-Day Roadshow (Jelajah) led by Deputy President Datuk Lawrence Gimbang to conduct thorough internal audits across all divisions.
The party has also restructured its Strategic Committee under Datuk Langkau and revamped administrative management under Robert Foo.
Dr Jeffrey called for strict party discipline, total elimination of internal factionalism, and a pragmatic electoral strategy focused on key strongholds and mutual political alliances.
He reaffirmed that the 40% net revenue entitlement is a mandatory constitutional provision under the Federal Constitution, not a discretionary federal grant.
Rejecting interim annual payouts as permanent substitutes for the 40% formula—which could yield an estimated RM20 billion annually for Sabah—he warned that continuous breach of MA63 guarantees grants Sabah the legitimate legal standing to pursue international arbitration via the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Addressing the long-standing demand for one-third (35%) parliamentary representation for East Malaysia, Dr. Jeffrey rejected federal narratives attributing the historical ratio strictly to Singapore’s presence prior to 1965.
He called for a unified, uncompromising “Borneo Bloc” with Sarawak to preserve East Malaysia’s veto power, protect state autonomy, and prevent divide-and-conquer legislative maneuvers.
To directly combat regional poverty, STAR is launching a division-level economic initiative.
Utilizing the party’s cooperative network (Koperasi) and subsidiary commercial entities, the party will assist local communities in unlocking value from native land assets, establishing sustainable income streams, and driving regional development.
Drawing historical comparisons with Brunei and Singapore, Dr. Jeffrey noted that Sabah’s vast natural resources should have secured top-tier economic prosperity.
He urged federal and state leaders to honor original constitutional terms, emphasizing that states like Johor lack an MA63 equivalent, making Sabah’s special constitutional rights legally distinct and absolute.
“Our duty is to protect what rightfully belongs to Sabah. Under the banner of ‘Unity is Duty,’ we do not seek enmity with the Federal Government, but we will never surrender our constitutional rights or the economic future of our people.” said Dr Jeffrey.
