KOTA KINABALU – Sabah deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan marked his three-decade struggle on state rights in conjunction with his party’s Sabah Star fifth anniversary.
The veteran lawmaker said Sabah Star culminates his struggle as a political activist since the 1990s, where he had also been detained under the now defunct Internal Security Act (ISA).
“I overcame numerous hardships including being imprisoned but I never faltered,” he said in a statement today. “I joined several political parties, but none of them were able to fulfil my aspirations. It never occurred to me at the time to start my own party. I didn’t want to do it.
“However, after a while, I realised that starting my own party was the only way I could continue my struggle, and thus, Star was born in 2016. Star will never abandon its philosophy despite being part of the Sabah government now.
“We will continue to fight for Sabah rights and demand that the federal government return the rights that they have taken away from us under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).”
Jeffrey – who is the brother of PBS founder Joseph Pairin Kitingan – has been known for party hopping – but despite his penchant for switching sides, he remained consistent of his political goals.
The Keningau MP, who is also Tambunan assemblyman, also express hope to contest more seats in the state and parliamentary elections.
He wants his party to expand their presence in all 73 state constituencies from the 64 seats at present. Furthermore, he also wants Star to contest in more parliamentary constituencies in Sabah from the eight or nine seats that they had battled in.
Jeffrey also called on party members to start engaging with young individuals, especially, those reaching the voting age of 18 in future.
“We should reach out to youths aged 15 and up. These are the people who will lead us in the future. I will not be here forever, but I am glad we have so many young leaders among us. They will hopefully continue the struggle,” he said.
“Realistically, it is difficult to say because the political scenario is different today. Anything can happen,” the veteran said. – The Vibes, July 1, 2021
