We’re forming new govt without BN/Umno — Jeffrey

KOTA KINABALU: After the many wild speculations about what is really happening, the president of Solidariti Tanahairku (STAR), Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, has given the assurance that he is not joining the Barisan Nasional or Warisan.

“I have been talking to the Sabah BN Chairman, Tan Sri Musa Aman, to find the best political solution for the good of the people of Sabah. And the agreement is that the Gabungan Sabah and all the victorious BN state assemblymen will form a coalition of local (Sabah) parties,” he said.

He explained that the plan is that the BN/Umno assemblymen will be leaving Umno and the Barisan Nasional, because the BN is no longer in power and Umno will most likely be declared an illegal entity.

He informed that the proposed coalition between Warisan and UPKO assemblymen had not materialised, and that this new alternative arrangement is the best solution in the current apparent impasse because if Sabah will then be totally independent from any control from Kuala Lumpur.

Dr Jeffrey also revealed that he was offered by the Parti Keadilan Rakyat the position of Deputy Prime Minister if STAR could give its parliamentary seat of Keningau to PKR.

“But I flatly rejected it because such a decision will mean we will surrender our state rights and sovereignty to Kuala Lumpur again. With the arrangement we have agreed on, our position will be a lot better than Sarawak’s,” he explained.

“From now on we are free to plan the future of Sabah in accordance with our own aspirations, culture and spirit.”