Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) is facing a major grassroots shake-up in Bandau after more than 1,400 members walked out of the party, citing dissatisfaction over the abrupt removal of their division chief, Ardino Diris.
The mass resignation came shortly after Star president Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan publicly announced Ardino’s sacking during a ceramah in Kota Marudu on Tuesday night.
Speaking after the announcement, Ardino revealed that he was not surprised by the move, saying he had long expected repercussions for maintaining his loyalty to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Within hours of learning about his dismissal, he reached out to all 51 branch leaders to explain the situation and discuss the way forward.
According to Ardino, the collective decision to leave Star reflects a growing desire among local members for political stability and continuity in Sabah’s development agenda, rather than being caught in internal party disputes.
He added that support for GRS in Bandau is likely to swell further, estimating that the number of supporters could climb to around 2,000 by polling day.
Ardino has since pledged full cooperation with the GRS election machinery, saying that the network of branch leaders and members who shifted their allegiance will bolster the campaign of GRS candidate Datuk Redonah Bahanda.
He believes their structured support across polling districts will give Redonah a stronger foothold in the increasingly competitive Bandau contest. – November 26, 2025
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