GE15: Any unity govt must include parties governing Sabah, Sarawak, says Kitingan

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR is open towards the formation of a unity government as the best solution for the nation to move forward, says party president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (pic).

“Given the political impasse faced by the nation and considering the suggestion by the King for a unity government, this would be the best solution at the moment.

“For us in Sabah STAR, we are open to supporting a unity government,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Nov 24).

However, he said that for a unity government to properly function it must include parties governing Sabah and Sarawak.

He said a unity government mechanism must be clearly established for it to work effectively.

Kitingan, who is also Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, also stressed that the stability of the nation was paramount.

“The nation has to move forward. To do so, we must have stability,” he added.

Kitingan said that he would inform his party’s stand to other partners in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) which is led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who was also the Sabah chapter chairman of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

Hajiji said that GRS would follow the direction of neighbouring Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) under the Borneo Bloc in forging their support for the new federal government.

GRS has a total of six MPs with four from Sabah Bersatu, one each from Sabah STAR and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

Another Sabah-based Parti Warisan with three MPs has thrown their weight behind Pakatan Harapan which has five MPs from Sabah.

Sabah Barisan has seven MPs while three other MPs included two independents and Parti KDM.