What has the STAR accomplished in the GRS state government over the past five years?
By Remy Majangkim
KOTA KINABALU:I gathered that the current events, with STAR declared to be out of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), have become a new twist in Sabah’s political minefield.
What just happened? Why the quarrel now? Can we make amends and move on from the election first? Why the drama and love triangle?
A friend of mine said this can be explained in a lyric by a Korean girl band called Fifty Fifty in their music hit “Cupid”.
So, I listen to it. Oh my! It is not only in the lyric that caught my eyes, but the aftermath of their popularity leading to multiple lawsuits among the producers, the band, and the agency.
The triangle dispute led to the disbanding of the group; one apologised and returned to the agency, and the rest came out as a new group called ABLUME.
Go and listen to the lyrics, so STAR is hopelessly romantic in the field of Sabah politics. “They want more and more and give a second chance to Cupid.” Is it that interesting?
This is not the first time STAR has made this move; once they won seats in the State Election back in 2020, it was reported that they changed alliances more than any party in Malaysia.
This made STAR the only political party to do so. There are many factions within the party that would like STAR to keep its relationship with GRS, united, and walk together in the upcoming election.
Some argue that it is part of a smokescreen to cover the alleged corruption as reported by the media.
Whatever the case, one must ask this question: in the past five years, under the deputy chief minister with the state agriculture portfolio, did farmers get any drastic improvement and sovereignty in the agriculture sector?
The price for animal feed keeps rising, leading to a higher cost that is ultimately paid by the consumer.
Can we have chicken rice to be RM 8.00 per plate instead of RM 12.00? What happened to the proposed reinstatement of the Sabah Padi Board?
What happened to the pursuing of the Malaysia Agreement 1963? As a purveyor of Sabah rights from 20 points and now MA63, why is there stagnation, which had become your battle cry then and now, and ultimately succeeded in being in office?
Remember the London trip you made together with Maximus Ongkili, visiting the Kew Archives in London? What is the continuity from it?
At the age of 77 years old, what unfinished work needs to be done?
Did STAR actively engage a new generation of leaders to take over? Who are these leaders, and what is the inspiration for the new Sabah in the next 10 years?
Many argue Sabah has been plagued by ageing politicians who refuse to step down and give way to a new line-up.
Their move to sever ties with GRS will come with a price. The choice now belongs to the voters to decide the outcome. Let’s play the song Cupid again
