Sabah STAR deputy president, Datuk Robert Tawik.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR has shot down speculation that it plans to exit Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), reaffirming its full commitment to the ruling coalition ahead of the 17th Sabah state election.
Its deputy president, Datuk Robert Tawik, described the rumours as baseless and stressed that Sabah STAR remains firmly aligned with GRS.
“We are not leaving GRS. The coalition was founded on the will of the people who wanted to see local parties work together for the good of the state,” he said in a statement on Saturday (May 3).
Talk had surfaced suggesting that Sabah STAR and another GRS component, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), might contest independently following the formation of a new platform called PBStar.
PBStar, a proposed merger of the two multiracial Sabah-based parties, was first revealed by Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, who said the idea was mooted by his elder brother and PBS founder, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, in late 2023.
The merger talks aimed to consolidate Sabah-based parties into a single entity, reduce political fragmentation, and enhance their bargaining power at the federal level.
Robert stressed that the party remains focused on strengthening GRS and preparing for the upcoming polls.
“The official establishment of GRS on March 11, 2022, marked a mature and united political front for Sabah. It reflects our shared commitment to set aside differences for the sake of the state,” he said.
Robert added that the coalition continues to enjoy strong leadership, particularly through the partnership between Kitingan and Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“The leadership of these two key figures has not only ensured political stability in Sabah but also earned recognition at the federal level,” he said, citing their success in reclaiming state rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
With six state seats, Sabah STAR believes grassroots support for GRS remains strong and is confident the coalition will perform well in the coming election.
He also urged all party members, supporters, and Sabahans to remain united with GRS for a stronger, more progressive state.
Apart from PBS and Sabah STAR, the other parties under GRS are Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP), Usno, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
