STAR pulling in more members
(Free Malaysia Today) – Jeffrey Kitingan’s Sabah chapter of the State Reform Party (STAR) is continuing to draw people to its fold in the state.
In the latest mass desertion, 523 PKR members in Kota Belud announced they were in the process or had already joined the Borneo-based STAR.
STAR divisional head for Kota Belud, Rubin Guribah, the former Kota Belud PKR deputy divisional head, said at least six of PKR’s polling district’s committees (JDM) here had also been dissolved.
The JDMs are from Kinasaraban, Taginambur, Sayap, Kiau, Gaur and Melangkap areas, he claimed, adding many members in the PKR division had also quit after losing confidence in its direction for Sabah.
“Among those local leaders who quit with me were Peter Dasim, Naim Angkat, Tingkun Penimbul, Laimin Linahan, Soidol Dominting, Jason Munggin Limpakan and many others,” he said, naming some of the opinion leaders who had quit.
He disclosed this at the launching of STAR for the Tempasuk state constituency by Jeffrey, the state STAR chairman, yesterday at the house of Suwah Buleh, a former Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) leader.
Meanwhile, the party’s state deputy chairman, Daniel John Jambun, in a statement said more are expected to join STAR not only in Kota Belud but from other districts as well.
Welcoming the 523 into STAR, Jambun said their bold decision indicated that local Sabahans wanted a strong voice through an independent local party.
“The people know what they are doing… this augurs well for STAR and Sabah,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey called on Sabahans to rally behind the United Borneo Alliance (UBA) in order to push for its seven-point Borneo Agenda STAR has been championing.
“Our support is growing and this shows that the people want change. This is the time for change. Our membership in Sabah has reached 160,000 in just less than three months from our state launching on Jan 6, and this is a very good development,” he said.
Also present at the well-attended function were former Kadamaian (in the 1960s known as Sorob and later Kebayau) Usno assemblyman, Ismail Gimbad; president of United Sabah Dusun Tindal Organisation (USTO), James Bagah; and Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) supreme council leader, Peter Marajin.
