KOTA KINABALU: Former Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) vice president Datuk Abidin Madingkir is keen to serve a third term.
Abidin who is seeking re-election on a Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ticket this time around, points out that he is still able and willing to serve the constituents in Paginatan again.
The former Kota Kinabalu city mayor who won the Paginatan seat twice consecutively, also expresses confidence that his supporters and a majority of STAR members in the constituency are still loyal and supportive of him to seek re-election.
“They back my decision to stay put in GRS in that they have faith in the coalition to steer Sabah to greater heights…and there was never a shred of doubt,” he points out.
Abidin also says matter-of-factly that the GRS-led state government under the stewardship of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor, had brought about progress and political stability crucial for the people’s well-being.
Abidin, an Assistant Minister prior to the State Assembly’s dissolution, was among five STAR heavyweights who parted ways with their president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan when the party left the GRS coalition in early October.
The other four were Datuk Ellron Angin (Sook) whoi is also STAR deputy president, Datuk Annuar Ayub Aman (Liawan), Datuk Robert Tawik (Bingkor) and Datuk Flovia Ng (Tulid).
They were opposed to the party’s exit from GRS and vehemently declared their support for the coalition.
At the 2020 state election, Abidin who contested on a Perikatan Nasional (PN) ticket, secured 3,783 votes to retain his seat – over 1,000 votes more than his closest rival from Barisan Nasional, Jemadi @ Junaidi bin Jahat who obtained 2,460 votes.
STAR was then a component party of PN headed by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who was Prime Minister between March 2020 and August 2021
Abidin first won the Paginatan seat in 2018 when he contested on a United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) ticket. He obtained 5,666 votes.
He has vast experience in public administration, having joined the civil service in 1978 with his first posting in the State Economic Planning Unit.
Abidin also served as permanent secretary to various ministries such as the Local Government and Housing, Agriculture, Youth and Sports, and Resource Development and Information Technology Ministries.
Polling is on November 29.
