GRS rubbishes talk of STAR exit, says all components united
PETALING JAYA : Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has rubbished rumours that key component Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) is planning to quit the ruling state coalition.
Acknowledging a viral video of STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan saying that his party would leave the coalition, GRS information chief Joniston Bangkuai said the leaders of all eight GRS components, including Kitingan, had met coalition chairman Hajiji Noor on Monday.
At the meeting, the party chiefs affirmed their commitment to GRS and to ensuring that the coalition scores a major victory in the upcoming state election, Joniston said.
'They're all united. They were unanimous in that they must not only remain together but further strengthen GRS. That was the commitment they gave during the meeting with the GRS chairman,' he told FMT.
GRS comprises eight parties, including Hajiji's Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and STAR. Gagasan Rakyat has 26 seats in the Sabah legislative assembly while PBS and STAR have seven and six seats, respectively.
PBS and STAR signed a pact last year to ensure that the two Kadazandusun Murut-based parties would not clash in the state polls, saying this was aimed at further strengthening GRS.
In the recent video, Kitingan, a Sabah deputy chief minister, could be heard saying, 'We will leave GRS but remain in the government.'
Malaysiakini quoted STAR deputy information chief Ardino Diris as saying the clip was taken out of context and that other parts of Kitingan's remarks – particularly about seat allocations – had been removed.
Even if STAR were to leave GRS, Joniston said PBS would stick with the ruling state coalition, which it helped establish in 2022.
'This is about principles. We helped form GRS, so how can we break away from a coalition that we helped form?' said the PBS information chief.
In any case, the state assistant minister said PBS and STAR's working relationship was 'as strong as ever', and that the ultimate goal of this was to bolster GRS's position in Sabah.
He added that a PBS-STAR convention would be held on July 12 with more than 5,000 grassroots leaders from both parties expected to attend.
'We will re-emphasise our commitment to ensuring a huge victory for GRS in the state polls. At the same time, it will be a platform for our grassroots leaders to express what they would like to see.
'Because it must always be guided by the feelings and sentiments of the grassroots on the ground,' he said.
Joniston added that PBS, STAR, as well as GRS must be guided by what Sabahans want, which he believed was for local Sabah-based parties to dominate the state's political arena.
'That is what the majority of Sabahans want, based on the feedback we've received, the comments on social media, and our interaction with voters and people on the ground.
'And GRS has done well. Our relationship with the federal government is excellent though the Sabah government is dominated by local parties. Things are moving as expected,' said the three-term Kiulu assemblyman.
GRS is said to be in talks with Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional on a pact for the state polls.
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