STAR Reform Party is Legal?

Pakatan Rakyat is urging Sabah State Reform Party (Star) to produce the black and white to clarify its status to the public. Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) Keningau Chairman, Paul Kadau said this was crucial considering the fact that many Sabahans have fallen under Sabah Star Chief, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan's influence.

"As we know this issue was highlighted by the local papers today and we are very concernd that the people of Sabah may end up further confused by Jeffrey, who is still struggling to prove the legitimacy of the party he is leading," he said.

According to Kadau, Jeffrey must come forward with a valid certificate from the Registrar Of Society (ROS) about Sabah Star's formation for the sake of the people of Sabah who have put their hopes and trust in him.

Kadau was speaking to reporters in a press conference held at the Keningau Pakatan Rakyat office, here, Saturday.

Meanwhile, the present situation between opposition parties, Pakatan Rakyat and Star Sabah should not be a reason for the KDM community to bicker among themselves.

Another APS leader here, Onggato Binandong, said supporters of Sabah Star should not be offended when PR lashed out against the leadership of Sabah Star on various issues, including the recent talk on the issue of politik cari makan.

Instead, he urged all Sabah Star supporters to switch their allegiance to PR, a more stable coalition, which stresses more on unity rather than discord within the KDM people here.

DAP Liawan spokesperson, Lawrence Y Mogidau also suggested that Jeffrey himself disband Sabah Star and return to PR to fight against Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno.

This is because, according to Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPPS) Bingkor Chief, Julian Lian, Sabah Star's endeavour to fight against PR is only giving BN the advantage.

"It has been the game of BN to divide the people of Sabah by letting us fight among one another.

This situation is true even when we look at BN's KDM components today.

"Towards this end, we, the people of Sabah especially in the opposition should unite under one concentrated force to defeat BN and Umno," he said.

Also present at the press conference were Deputy Chairman of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Council of Elders, Robert Linggi, APS Bingkor Chief, Victor Leonardus, Liawan APS representative, Jason Johnny and others.

Star: Jeffrey 'cari makan' for people unlike Bumburing

Politicians "cari makan" (make a living) from politics, while, some for personal gains others, do the job for the people, said the State Reform Party (Sabah Star).

Deputy Chairman, Dr Nicholas Guntobon in response to Keningau Sabah Reform Movement (APS) Chairman, Paul Kadau, said while the party's chairman, Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, is "cari makan" for the people, the non-governmental organisation's leader, Datuk Wilfred Bumburing, is doing it for personal gain.

He claimed Bumburing had done so by colluding with Peninsular Malaysian leaders, as Jeffrey was promoting the State's rights and autonomy.

"Dr Jeffrey dared to stand for the interest of Sabahans and is independent of parties from outside Sabah. Jeffrey had done so using ideas that had never been introduced in local politics," Dr Guntobon said, on Thursday.

He said Dr Jeffrey's ideas are so revolutionary that the APS copied Star's "Ini Kalilah" slogan and initially used its powerpoint presentations, for which they said, " Ini Dr Jeffrey bilang" (this is what Dr Jeffrey has said).

"Does Bumburing believe in fighting for real Sabahans rights? If he does, how will he do it under Parti Keadilan, which stood by the Malayan Agenda of subtle colonialism?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Dr Guntobon also took exception with APS comments that Star has been attacking them, which he said was actually the other way around. He illustrated: " While APS was campaigning it faced problems penetrating a lot of areas because Star had already established itself in such places."

He revealed APS had to attack the party, thinking that Star was a rival it needs to eliminate before attacking the Barisan Nasional. "Eventually, Star responded. And now Bumburing has the temerity to tell Star to focus attacks on Barisan Nasional," he said. He deemed the move as pathetic, as APS had to resort to create nonsensical attacks against Jeffrey, for the sake of winning arguments.

He said Dr Jeffrey had been accused of indulging in "Aramaitii", something which Bumburing could identify with better, while ignoring Jeffrey's arguments. "They know Jeffrey had never disloyal to all the parties he had been in. Rather the leaders from the parties were afraid of Jeffrey's abilities, hence, betrayed him, until he had to leave the parties.This is clearly shown while he was in Keadilan," Dr Guntobon said.