Pairin thanks Jeffrey for forming pact with BN Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Despite having lost the Tambunan state seat to his brother, PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan went on to thank STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and STAR’s Bingkor assemblyman, Robert Tawik @ Nordin for their about-turn to form a pact with Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah to ensure the BN has a simply majority of 31 assemblymen to form the state government.

He said the decision of the two STAR leaders to collude with the BN to form the state government speaks volumes of their principles and loyalty.

“I missed the shot at being elected owing to my brother (Jeffrey), but never mind. I believe what is important is the cooperation between leaders in Sabah,” Pairin said at Sabah BN chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman’s press conference at Sri Gaya here yesterday.

With Jeffrey and Robert on board, Musa announced that the BN has secured a simple majority of 31 seats to form the state government.

Before Musa’s press conference, Upko acting president Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau had declared that the party would be leaving the BN to form a coalition government with Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan). Madius said the decision was made after the party’s supreme council meeting held at a resort here.

However, Upko’s five assemblymen, namely, Ewon Benedick (Kadamaian), Datuk Limus Jury (Kuala Penyu), Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan), Datuk Bobbey Suan (Nabawan) and Datuk Masiung Banah (Kuamut) unilaterally decided to stay with the BN.

Pairin said the claim that the five Upko leaders have joined Warisan was a lie.

“How can we support leaders who lie?” he asked.

Of the 60 state seats contested in Sabah, BN won 29 seats, followed by Warisan (21), DAP (six), PKR (two) and STAR (two).