Latest news with #JeffreyKitingan
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Jeffrey Kitingan lays down terms for PH collaboration, says Putrajaya must not dictate Sabah's future
KOTA KINABALU, July 3 — Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan has laid down conditions for any collaboration between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the upcoming state election, insisting that local parties must lead Sabah's political direction, not Putrajaya. The Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president said that while his party is open to cooperation, any arrangement involving PH must preserve local autonomy and include clear seat allocations. 'We have outlined two options. First, we divide the 73 state seats among ourselves in GRS. Then, if any of the eight component parties want to work with PH, they can relinquish their seats — negotiations are up to them. 'Or, we can agree to allocate PH a fixed number of seats and let them divide them among themselves. But everyone must contest under the GRS logo,' he told Malay Mail in a recent interview. He noted that the concept was not new, pointing out that DAP had previously contested under Parti Warisan's logo in the last general election. Using the 'Sabah for Sabahans' rallying cry, Kitingan — a long-time advocate of state autonomy — said it was time for Sabahans to unite and take full control of their affairs, free from federal interference. His party, which expanded from two to six seats in the 2020 state election and enjoys strong support among the Kadazan-Dusun-Murut (KDM) communities in Sabah's interior, joined GRS in 2022 in a bid to foster local unity. However, as friction builds within GRS's eight components and amid ties with PH at the federal level, Kitingan warned that the coalition's strength now depends on genuine collaboration. 'We came together for MA63 and the shared will to push for state rights. It was the right platform. But that's not enough if local leaders continue to chase power over unity. If we can't unite, we'll be forced to fall back on sentiment,' he said, referring to the Malaysia Agreement 1963. Kitingan warned against what he viewed as federal overreach, suggesting that recent political developments reflect Putrajaya's growing influence in Sabah — to the detriment of GRS's identity and autonomy. Most recently, he took issue with the Prime Minister's announcement in Indonesia regarding joint cooperation over the disputed, resource-rich Ambalat maritime region, located near Sabah's borders. 'They are trying very hard to control us, and we have to take it back and make our own decisions. The answer is a local coalition. Look at Sarawak — they have done very well,' he said, referring to the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) coalition. Kitingan said the current trajectory was 'as good as colonisation'. 'Sabah should be of one heart — from leaders to government agencies to the people. But we're still competing, still grabbing for power. That's our failure,' he said, urging leaders to put aside egos and partisan divides. Kitingan said an all-local alliance was the only solution against federal exploitation and did not rule out working with opposition forces like Warisan. The interview was conducted just before Kitingan was linked to a mining corruption scandal, which has so far seen two GRS-aligned assemblymen charged with accepting bribes. Still, Kitingan maintained that the scandal has no bearing on his political convictions. 'If anything, this will strengthen my political strategy,' he said. When asked how, he simply replied: 'My resolve.' However, he acknowledged that public trust may be tested — and suggested the situation was part of a 'political entrapment' orchestrated by 'hidden hands' to bring down local parties. Without naming individuals, he pointed out that parties like PKR — supposedly allies — were already using the scandal to claim the political landscape was shifting. 'Even the Chief Minister believes this is all just a political game. If we react by stepping down, we're falling into their trap. 'Still, we have to monitor public perception. If action is warranted, then maybe we'll consider it,' he said. Seeking a legacy, not a position Kitingan said the core issue remains whether GRS, as a local platform, should remain aligned with PH out of gratitude for support during the 'Langkah Kinabalu' crisis, or whether Sabah's interests would be better served with full independence from federal coalitions. 'Yes, the national alliance helped us then and we are grateful. They became part of the state government. But does that mean we still owe them?' he asked. 'Don't we want to save ourselves from being under federal control? Then we need to be truly united with all local parties,' he said, adding that even parties like Warisan share this sentiment. "Langkah Kinabalu' refers to the 2023 Sabah political crisis. Despite growing calls for GRS to contest the election independently, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has signalled a preference to move forward with a GRS-PH alliance — despite potential clashes with Barisan Nasional — adding to the political complexity. Kitingan was quick to clarify that his intensified push for Sabah autonomy was not a bid to become Chief Minister. 'I'm not looking to be CM. I've gone through a lot already. I just want to leave a legacy for the next generation of Sabahans,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Kitingan decries ‘fabricated' RM1.78mil claim linked to mining scandal
Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan said he reserves the right to sue over the report, which he described as 'irresponsible and damaging'. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Jeffrey Kitingan has denied a news report alleging he received RM1.78 million in connection with the alleged mining scandal in Sabah. The Sabah deputy chief minister said the report by Malaysiakini was unfounded and politically-motivated with the goal of destabilising and demonising the current state government. Kitingan, a key leader of the ruling state coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), said he reserves the right to take legal action over the 'irresponsible and damaging' report. In a statement today, he said: 'I have never, ever, received any funds related to mining applications or any alleged scandal. The accusations are a deliberate fabrication orchestrated by desperate political actors seeking to exert undue influence on Sabah politics, a tactic historically employed since the 1960s. 'STAR categorically denies any involvement in mining activities. We have never applied for any mining licenses. As proponents of the Nature Conservation Agreement, mining is inherently incompatible with our conservation principles.' Kitingan also said he and other STAR members had given full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's investigation into the alleged scandal. He claimed that he was being subject to these allegedly false accusations because he championed Sabah's rights, and expected more of such claims to emerge in the days leading to the Sabah state assembly elections expected later this year. 'It is not surprising that certain groups and parties will exploit this, hoping that this fake news will alter the dynamics and political landscape in Sabah,' he said. Two assemblymen and a businessman are expected to be charged at the Kota Kinabalu court tomorrow in relation to the alleged mining scandal. The alleged scandal was reported last year after a series of videos linking several Sabah assemblymen to it were leaked. The videos allegedly depicted discussions involving bribery and misconduct related to mineral exploration projects in the state. In February, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the initial batch of videos lacked credibility as they had been heavily edited.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kitingan questions Ambalat deal: Was Sabah consulted on joint development plan with Indonesia?
KOTA KINABALU, July 1 — Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan has expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent statement in Indonesia, agreeing to jointly develop the disputed Ambalat maritime region near Sabah's maritime borders. Kitingan, who is also Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku president, said that it would be an insult if the announcement was made without prior consultation with the state government. 'I am disappointed to know this is happening, too. Ambalat has always been considered part of Sabah's territorial waters. 'If this decision was truly made without consulting Sabah, then it is not good. It's another way of bypassing Sabah's rights. And we need an explanation,' he said. Kitingan said he would be seeking clarification formally and will consider bringing the matter up in Parliament. 'We are on our way toward finding out, from now until next month. Let's see what explanation is given first,' he said. It was reported that Anwar said Malaysia and Indonesia should go ahead to jointly develop the disputed oil-rich Ambalat area off the east coast of Sabah without waiting to solve legal and regulatory obstacles. 'If we wait for everything to be finalised, it could take decades,' he was quoted saying after talks with Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto. Malaysia and Indonesia have overlapping territorial claims on the 15,000 sq km Ambalat sea block, which is believed to hold significant crude oil reserves. In 2023, deputy foreign affairs minister Mohamad Alamin said discussions about the Sulawesi Sea Treaty signed by Malaysia and Indonesia in June 2023 would not be held publicly to safeguard the sensitivity of the matter. Sabah has been fighting hard to regain the continental shelf and territorial maritime area, one of the issues to be discussed as part of the state's rights in the Malaysian Agreement 1963. Previously, Kitingan had said that under the Land Ordinance (Sabah Cap.68), submerged land, including the seabed up to the continental shelf, falls under Sabah's jurisdiction. Land is a state matter under the State List in the 9th Schedule of the Federal Constitution, which includes land tenure, permits, and licences for mining activities. Therefore, he said Sabah's rights to manage and utilise its continental shelf, including the ownership and management of oil and gas resources, should be indisputable. In August 2023, chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had said that Sabah remains firm in rejecting Indonesia's claim over the sovereignty of the Ambalat area in the Sulawesi Sea. He said the state government will continue to defend Ambalat, which is known to be rich in oil and gas resources, as part of Sabah and Malaysia's territory.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Kitingan expressed frustration 40% revenue entitlement meeting did not take place
KOTA KINABALU: A Sabah leader expressed disappointment that the planned meeting to address the state's 40% revenue entitlement scheduled for Monday (June 30) never took place. Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan revealed that the Sabah Cabinet had agreed for the state to host the crucial meeting and that he had written to the Chief Minister to initiate the process. "I wrote to the Chief Minister. It was based on his suggestion that Sabah host a meeting on June 30. The Prime Minister's Department (PMO) was informed, and the Chief Minister brought the letter to the Cabinet. Everyone agreed. We were supposed to send the letter to the PMO, but when we checked, it had not been sent," said Kitingan at the Sabah STAR ninth anniversary gathering launch on Tuesday (July 1). Kitingan noted that the letter was supposed to be sent by the Sabah State Secretary's office. In voicing frustration over the hiccups, he said it causes a setback to federal-state relations. "I do not know why it was not sent, even though everything had been agreed upon. I have asked for an explanation and am still waiting. This meeting was supposed to mark real progress on the 40% revenue issue," he said. In another development, Kitingan also expressed disappointment over recent developments concerning the Ambalat maritime boundary, criticising the lack of consultation with Sabah. "That area falls within Sabah's territory. If that is true, and Sabah was not consulted, it is not right. We need clarification, and I will request an official explanation. "If there has been a formal protest from Sabah, we will wait for a response. This may take time. I may raise the matter in the next parliamentary session," he said. Kitingan was referring to the agreement between Malaysia and Indonesia to adopt a joint development approach to manage long-standing maritime border disputes, including the resource-rich and contested Ambalat Block. This commitment was made during a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on June 27. The Ambalat dispute dates back to the 1970s and centres around overlapping maritime claims in the Sulawesi Sea. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee is urging the Federal and Sabah governments to present the recent Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral agreement, particularly regarding the Ambalat Block, to both Parliament and the Sabah State Assembly for debate and transparency before any deal is finalised. "Malaysia's claim over the Ambalat area has historical backing from the 2002 ICJ Ligitan-Sipadan ruling, and any move resembling the previous Blocks L and M controversy must be avoided," he said. COMPLI SABAH & SARAWAK, POLITICS Keywords:
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Jeffrey to lodge police report over reports linking him to Sabah graft scandal
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan will lodge a police report over a media report linking him to the graft scandal involving the issuance of mining prospecting licences in the state. Apart from Jeffrey, an online portal had also alleged that several other prominent Sabah politicians were involved in the scandal. "To me, it looks like entrapment. Why is it that we are the last group to be involved in the scandal? Why don't we do it all at once? "I can see that there is a hidden hand moving around and planning all this behind the scenes. "First, we will make a police report. After that, we will see the reaction of the accused. Then, I will talk to the lawyers and listen to their advice," said the Keningau member of parliament. He said when footage of other Sabah assemblymen came out last year implicating some in a corruption scandal, "everyone was called" by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. "We went to the MACC office to explain. After that, we thought that was it. "(This is) because they never contacted us again, never sent us letters. We thought it had nothing to do with us," he said after the 9th anniversary celebration for Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) at Sabah International Convention Centre here. Recently, the online portal had alleged the Star president received RM1.78 million in connection with the corruption scandal. Jeffrey, however, said he has not received any summons to appear before the MACC since the allegations appeared. As for suggestions that implicated leaders should step down temporarily, Jeffrey acknowledged hearing such views. "I have heard of that. But the chief minister believes this is just a game.
