KOTA KINABALU: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan will defend his Keningau parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15).
The Keningau member of parliament said this was the party's stand, noting it was normal for Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) to attempt to capture back its traditional seat.
"STAR needs to treat this as a friendly reminder to work harder to defend the seat.
"For us, PBS' intention to contest in Keningau (and Tambunan state seat) is a normal matter in politics," he said.
Jeffry was speaking to reporters after launching the Kaamatan TV platform at the Sabah International Convention Centre here today.
In the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018, Jeffrey wrested the Keningau parliamentary and Tambunan state seats from his brother Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who was the PBS founder president and former chief minister.
Kitingan, who is Kadazandusun paramount leader, had held the Tambunan state seat since 1976 and the Keningau parliamentary seat since 1985.
Yesterday, PBS president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili had said the party was preparing the ground work to stake its claim for the Keningau parliamentary seat in GE15.
Meanwhile, STAR secretary general Datuk Senator Guandee Kohoi said while they understand PBS's fond desire to win back Keningau amd Tambunan in future elections, it would be unfair to expect STAR to handover its strongest interior seats.
"These two seats are now in the strong care of the STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan who is enjoying tremendous support in those constituencies.
"It must be remembered that STAR has won Keningau parliamentary and Tambunan state seat under STAR's Sabah symbol in GE14.
"It was not an easy win as we had to work really hard being in the opposition at that time.
"During the state election in 2020, we won again in Tambunan after the seat was allocated to STAR with the agreement by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
"Contesting under the Perikatan Nasional symbol, STAR won very comfortablely with a more than 6,000 vote majority. It was a veritable victory and not a mere fluke," added Kohoi.
He also said there was a sincere effort to merge STAR and PBS recently with the intention for the two to become a single party to be called Star Bersatu.
Unfortunately, despite several meetings held, he said the discussions hit a snag as PBS was not very positive and accommodating.
"It was probably due to the perception that STAR was still a small struggling party at that time. But believe it or not, STAR is still open for a revival of the discussion for the sake of unity.
"STAR regards PBS as a close ally and partner in the GRS with whom we will cooperate for GRS victory in future elections," said Kohoi.
