By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan clarified that he did not say that STAR or Team S4S (Sabah for Sabahans) would cooperate with parties from Malaya.
“What I said is that we will continue building a political movement that puts Sabah first, just as Sarawak has done,” he said.
He said his earlier statement was taken out of context, explaining that although STAR remains open to cooperating with federal or Malayan-based parties for the sake of political stability and the federation after the State Election, it will not operate under or take instructions from any Malayan parties.
He added that any cooperation will be based on mutual respect and genuine partnership within Malaysia and will never come at the expense of Sabah’s rights or autonomy.
Jeffrey said Sarawak is governed entirely by Sarawak-based parties, while Malaya-based parties and coalitions are not part of the Sarawak government.
“They are the opposition. That is what true autonomy looks like — a regional government built and led by its own people and accountable only to them,” he said.
“This is the model we are building in Sabah. We will work with the Federal Government when necessary, as the Sabah regional government, but Sabah must be governed by Sabahans through Sabah-based parties,” he said.
“Our relationships with others must always be based on equality and respect, never submission. Our stand is clear — Sabah must decide for Sabah, just as Sarawak decides for Sarawak. The time for dependency is over; the time for dignity has begun,” he said.
STAR will contest in the 17th Sabah State Election under the party’s own symbol after withdrawing from the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
Jeffrey said the decision was made not out of a desire for power but based on principle — that Sabah must be led by true sons and daughters of the land who are patriotic, have the Sabahan spirit, and genuinely love this homeland; not by weak leaders, or parties that take orders from Malaya.
STAR’s stand for Sabah, he said, is to ensure full respect for the Malaysia Agreement 1963, with all promises made during Malaysia’s formation implemented through fair treatment within the federation.
He said the party also seeks to end the rule of elites and outsiders who profit while Sabahans continue to struggle with extreme poverty, high unemployment, illiteracy, and disease.
“Our struggle is not against one another, but against the system that has kept us weak, poor, and divided,” he said.
