Jeffrey: Local parties can force KL to listen

State Reform Party will walk alone if Sabah opposition refuses to unite under a common banner and go for one-to-one contests.

PENAMPANG: State Reform Party’s (STAR) Sabah chairman, Jeffrey Kitingan said local opposition parties here in Sabah need to realize the potential of their co-operation because only as a united-front will they be able to be the king-makers in the coming general election and be able to demand Sabah rights from Kuala Lumpur.

He said this in his speech to launch the Kota Kinabalu, Putatan and Penampang divisions of STAR at the KDCA Cultural Village here.

“Even the parliamentary seats must be given to local parties because (only) through these seats can Sabah speak up in parliament for Sabah rights.

“The parties in the Peninsular already have 75% of the seat in parliament and it is gross injustice for them to come here and take our seats as well,” he said.

He reiterated STAR’s stance that the party is supportive of the one-to-one formula if it can be achieved. He also expressed his concern that negotiations on the matter has been without mutual consultation and without respect for certain parties.

Jeffrey said if all else fails, if STAR is not given sufficient opportunity to discuss in negotiations, the party may just have to resort to what he calls his “Plan Z”, which is to go to polls alone.

“We may just have to face the election on our own,” he said, to the rousing shouts of the 2,000-strong crowd.

“In such a scenario we have to consider such a step as a form of one-to-one contest.”

Also present were the deputy chairmen of STAR Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari, Daniel John Jambun and several observers from other political parties.

The occasion also the entry into the party by UPKO’s former supreme council member Biuh Badung, Catherine Jikinon who resigned from UPKO Penampang women’s wing to join STAR, Richard Jayasuriya who was formerly the president of Pasok, one Umno’s exco member, Lucy Batak who resigned from PBRS’ women’s wing, and Elizabeth Augustine who left Putatan’s Umno women’s wing.