KOTA KINABALU: Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan took his seat among government backbenchers during the swearing-in ceremony and first sitting of the 17th State Legislative Assembly on Thursday (Dec 11) after insisting previously that his party would be in the opposition.
His placement in the government bloc drew attention as it came just nine days after he publicly stated that Sabah STAR would stay out of the ruling coalition following the party’s performance in the Nov 29 state election, when it won two seats.
On Dec 2, Kitingan had said Sabah STAR would not join the government, stressing that the party stood by its position to be part of the opposition.
This was in response to his party's other assemblyman, Datuk Mohd Ishak Ayub (Bingkor), being appointed as a state assistant minister.
However, during today’s sitting, Kitingan was seen seated in the front row of the government backbench, between Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup (the Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah president and Sook assemblyman) and Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin (the Upko deputy president and Moyog assemblyman).
The shift raises questions over Sabah STAR’s current alignment, although no formal announcement has been made about any change in its political position.
