Don’t fall for STAR Sabah’s promises – Keningau KEADILAN

Posted on May 9, 2012, Wednesday

KENINGAU: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KEADILAN) yesterday warned the people of Sabah not to fall for the promises and sweet talk being spread by the State Reforms Party (STAR).

What STAR intends to do can never be successful as proven by history, according to Keningau KEADILAN deputy chief Risham Mail.

He said if one were to examine closely what STAR is fighting for today, it is very similar to what Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) had fought for during its nine years in power in the 1980s and 1990s.

He said after years of fighting for all of its agenda as an opposition, PBS finally rejoined the Barisan Nasional (BN) while it had never achieved what it had been fighting for until today.

“Let’s assume that STAR manages to win in Sabah and forms its government, the situation will be similar to how PBS had won in Sabah 25 years ago, and we all know what happens in the end, PBS returned to the BN fold because they could not do anything on their own,” he said.

Risham said since STAR was formed in Sarawak and only beginning to spread its influence in Sabah, and without any significant foothold in Peninsular Malaysia, STAR had no steady foundation to become a government.

“And should it win, it will only for the glory of the candidates while the people will suffer.”

On the other hand, KEADILAN is a more established party that possesses a strong reputation across the country and even governing several major states in Malaysia, as well as properly organized and with very clear vision, he said.

According to Risham, the presence of STAR in the political scenario in Sabah will only result in splitting opposition supporters, especially in the interior areas.

“Whenever STAR Sabah chief Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan visits any parts of the state, the people will gather to hear him speak because the people like him to entertain them with his wits. This is nothing new.

“However, we all know where the people’s votes went to because in every election, Dr Jeffrey never won any seat in his career after he left PBS. Despite the big turnout of people in his gatherings, in fact not many want to vote for him (his party),” he said.

Risham added 58 members from BN in Kampung Mempikit Laut decided to join KEADILAN in support of the party’s cause as they had lost faith in the BN.

He said the new members submitted their membership forms to KEADILAN Liawan assistant co-ordinator Yapilin Nawawi at the village recently which was also attended by KEADILAN Keningau information chief Paul Gitang.