KOTA KINABALU: Tambunan Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS) chief Dato’ Victor P. Paut has dismissed claims that around 500 former STAR members recently joining his party in Tambunan were motivated by “offers of positions”.
“How can people make such cynical allegations when all positions—from the grassroots level up to the division—have already been filled?” he stated today.
Victor, who also serves as Deputy Chairman of Sawit Kinabalu and Borneo Samudera Sdn Bhd, further rejected unfounded suggestions that these individuals were paid to switch parties.
Instead, he emphasised that their decision to join PGRS Tambunan was self-initiated, driven by dissatisfaction with their past political experiences.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday after receiving a large group of former STAR Sabah members from Mukim Lintuhun and Mukim Monsorulung in Kampung Tikolod, Tambunan, Victor said changing political allegiance to better advance their cause is a justified step, even if it may seem bold.
“They’ve come to realize that their previous efforts yielded little impact, benefiting neither themselves nor the community they serve,” he explained.
He stressed that shifting course well before any election is a significant but appropriate move, reflecting a sincere and thoughtful choice.
Some members, he noted, had felt their concerns were overlooked or left unaddressed by higher party leadership.
“They now see that under PGRS, within the current GRS administration, there is genuine support for their well-being and development,” Victor added.
He highlighted that the GRS-led state government has delivered tangible results through various programs, including rural infrastructure projects, youth empowerment initiatives, business financing, skills training, and educational support for children.
