KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Star is eyeing eight federal seats in the next general election, ahead of official talks between the party and its allies.
Its secretary-general, Guandee Kihoi, told The Vibes that the party is looking to stand in Kota Belud, Sepanggar, Putatan, Tuaran, Ranau, Keningau, Pensiangan and Tenom.
“Sabah Star is asking for eight seats. I think we have the numbers to win them.
“At present, Sabah Star already has 320,000 registered (members), a big leap from just over 80,000 when the party started in 2016.”
The party, which is part of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition, won six state seats in the Sabah polls last September, which saw the fall of the Parti Warisan Sabah government.
Sabah Star is believed to be a moat for Bersatu and the Perikatan Nasional federal pact. Both parties have a combined 17 state seats to Umno’s 14.
It has two state ministers, including president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan, who is deputy chief minister II and holds the agriculture and fisheries portfolio, as well as three assistant ministers.
Kihoi himself has been appointed a senator.
In terms of presence, Sabah Star has 64 division offices in Sabah’s 73 state constituencies, except for the east coast districts of Sebatik, Merotai, Tg Batu and Terusan.
It is in the midst of setting up a divison office in Bugaya, while party sponsors have been established in Senallang and Sulabayan, in Semporna district. – The Vibes, February 23, 2021
