KOTA KINABALU: A political twist may be shaping up in Sabah’s interior where two sons may take on their incumbent assemblyman fathers who defected from Sabah STAR to align with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
The sons of Sook assemblyman Datuk Ellron Angin and Bingkor assemblyman Datuk Robert Tawik are widely speculated to be Sabah STAR’s choice for the interior seats in Keningau and Pensiangan that may end up with them clashing with their fathers.
Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan endorsed the party’s youth chief Jordan Jude Ellron, 28, for the seat of Tulid, though he could be fielded in the neighbouring seat of Sook held by his father.
He also alluded to Jordan’s youth deputy Razzidin Robert contesting in Bingkor, the seat of his father Robert.
Kitingan, who also named several candidates, indicated the choices during a question and answer session at the meeting with division heads, wanita and youth wings after the Sabah STAR supreme council meeting.
It remains to be seen where they will stand as the situation is fluid, according to sources.
When contacted, Sabah STAR information chief Datuk Anuar Ghani said no firm decision on the candidates had been made yet, but confirmed that both youth leaders in their divisions were being considered as potential candidates.
However, he stressed that both sons did not follow their fathers’ decision to go with GRS and have reaffirmed their intention to remain with Sabah STAR.
Robert and Ellron, together with Datuk Abidin Madingkir (Paginatan), Datuk Annuar Ayub (Liawan) and Datuk Flovia Ng (Tulid), left Sabah STAR after Kitingan, together with Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, quit GRS on Oct 1 over its electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan.
In a Facebook post, Jordan congratulated Razzidin as a candidate for Bingkor and thanked the party president for the support for youths to be candidates. A screenshot of the post went viral.
It is understood that Robert has not been well in recent months and talk is that his son will be fielded in Bingkor to replace him.
During the dialogue, Kitingan, who is also Tambunan assemblyman, disclosed that party vice-president Datuk Kenny Chua is among candidates for the state election.
Sabah STAR is a non-Muslim native-based party representing mostly the ethnic Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus communities.
Back then, the party and another GRS partner, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), had signed an agreement to strengthen the coalition’s support among the community.
Sabah STAR’s exit from GRS has left PBS to handle the non-Muslim native seats.
