Jeffrey Kitingan claims six Sabah assemblymen will join his party

KOTA KINABALU: A day before the newly-elected Sabah State Legislative Assembly sits for its first meeting on Monday (June 11), Sabah STAR is claiming at least six assemblymen will defect to join them.

However, Sabah STAR president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan did not indicate if the defectors will be from the governing coalition (Parti Warisan Sabah and its partners DAP, PKR, and Upko) or from the opposition Sabah Barisan Nasional coalition.

He claimed the movements will happen within June.

When asked to confirm news reports that six assemblymen will be joining Sabah STAR, Dr Jeffrey said he could not comment further to avoid sabotage.

"I can't comment at this stage, because we don't want any sabotage.

"The movement can be expected anytime this month. We are preparing the forms for them to join Sabah STAR," said the Tambunan assemblyman and Keningau MP when contacted Sunday (June 10).

Some sources indicate that it is possible that some Umno assemblymen and MPs might abandon their party to join a local-based party after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Warisan and its partners hold 37 seats in the 60-member state assembly while Sabah Umno has 13, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) has six and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) has one.

Upko's Nabawan assemblyman Datuk Bobbey Suan is also aligned with Barisan and did not join his party to work with Warisan.

Sabah STAR holds the remaining two seats.

Following the May 9 general election, Sabah was left with a hung state assembly with Sabah Barisan Nasional and Warisan and its Pakatan Harapan partners tied with 29 seats each.

Sabah STAR, led by Dr Jeffrey, became kingmaker with their two seats in the 60-member house.

Dr Jeffrey moved with Sabah Barisan chairman Tan Sri Musa Aman, giving him a simple 31-seat majority.

Musa managed to be sworn in as Chief Minister at close to midnight during a delayed ceremony at Istana Negeri on May 10.

But Musa lost his majority overnight when Barisan’s component party Upko and several Umno assemblymen quit the coalition and shifted their support to Shafie, who was sworn in May 12 with a majority of 35 seats.

Since then, another two Upko assemblymen have jumped to Shafie’s side, bringing the tally for Warisan and its partners to 37 seats.