Star disappointed with PBS' renege, urges PM to intervene

SABAH POLLS | Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Jeffrey Kitingan was deeply dismayed by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) which broke its promise on the seat negotiation to avoid electoral clashes for the Sept 26 election.

He said he has requested Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to ask PBS to withdraw their candidates soon after, but he was not sure whether the attempt was successful or not.

Kitingan, who is defending the Tambunan constituency, revealed that he was alerted by his PBS friends on the eve of nomination day regarding the possibility of PBS adding their candidates.

“We counterchecked the day before because we received so many rumours (that they may increase their seats).

“But when we checked, we were told that they are sticking to the 15 seats.

“I was doubtful because this (rumours) came from the PBS camp itself. They told me about it,” the Keningau MP said to Malaysiakini during his event in Tambunan this evening.

He further claimed that he was informed that the PBS president Maximus Ongkili signed the watikah for the additional candidates a day before the nomination day.

“I was really disappointed,” he lamented.

Previously, PBS promised to field 15 candidates but ended up fielding 22 contenders during the nomination day.

The seven additional seats are Moyog (PBS vs PN-Star), Lumadan (PBS vs BN-Umno), Paginatan (PBS vs BN-Umno vs PN-Star), Tambunan (PBS vs PN-Star), Bingkor (PBS vs PN-Star), Liawan (PBS vs PN-Star), Tulid (PBS vs BN-PBRS vs PN-Star).

Soon after, PBS deputy president Radin Malleh issued a statement and acknowledged that the party had initially planned to contest 15 seats but noted that even then, there would have been clashes in at least five of them.

He said to this end, PBS conducted an analysis of Kadazan Dusun Murut constituencies, based on requests from the grassroots, and decided to contest in six such seats.

Kitingan said Muhyiddin was disappointed with PBS as well when he told the premier.

“He was disappointed. I think there was an attempt to ask them (PBS) to withdraw (candidates) in those areas after the nomination...but I also don’t know whether they have done it or not,” added the tourism, arts and culture deputy minister.

Kitingan reiterated that he has accepted his party only to contest in eight seats as he felt the most important thing for Perikatan Nasional (PN) was not to clash among each other.

“But during nomination day, they did not only field 15 candidates but also another seven including mine (seat in Tambunan).

“Yes, I felt angry but at the same time, I do not want to waste my energy. I will focus on the winning, and that’s it.

“If I knew, I would field Star (candidates) in their 15 seats as well. But I trusted them, so I did not do so,” he said.

He added that the clashes among Star and PBS would only benefit their opponents which is the Warisan Plus. - Mkini