STAR wins over members from Sabah BN parties

New political party, Sabah STAR 's popularity is fast spreading in Sabah.

BELURAN: The Sarawak-based State Reform Party’s (STAR) Sabah chapter received a shot in the arm when 2,800 new members handed over their membership applications to the party.

Sabah STAR, which is helmed by maverick politician Jeffrey Kitingan, is fast gaining support in the state, especially among the KadazanDusun and Murut communities. The party now has 120,000 members in Sabah.

The new members who were formerly from Umno, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) and PKR joined the party during the launch of Sabah Beluran STAR division last weekend.

Beluran is currently represented in Parliament by Umno’s Roland Kiandee, who is also the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker.

Said Sabah chapter secretary Guandee Kohoi: “This is yet a manifestation of the Sabahans’ disillusionment with the Umno regime which was propped up in Sabah by PBS, PBRS, Upko, LDP and MCA,” he said.

At its launch in Penampang last month, STAR annoucned that it had already secured 100,000 membership applications. This was attributed to the work of Jeffrey who has been criss-crossing the state to get Sabahans to support the Borneo Agenda and the reinstatement of the Malaysia Agreement.

Guandee said the prompt response of Sabahans to STAR will translate into real victory in the coming general election, now predicted to be held sometime mid-year.

Meanwhile, those from Beluran Umno who joined STAR over the weekend were from 21 branches in the constituency which is generally a rural spread next to Sandakan, the power-base of Chief Minister Musa Aman.

Guandee said more new applications were to be received from another two divisions launched over the weekend in Batu Sapi and Kinabatangan which were attended by the party’s state chapter vice- chairman, Jalumin Bayogoh.

Meanwhile in Beluran, a former PBS deputy Youth chief Lius Meliton were among those who joined STAR.

Meliton said he was attracted to Jeffrey’s struggle and the leadership of James Ait from Kuamut STAR who selflessly fought for the natives rights there.