KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah STAR vice-president Datuk Abidin Madingkir has officially joined Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah, together with 30 former Sabah STAR committee members from the Paginatan state constituency.
Madingkir, who is a former Kota Kinabalu city mayor, said more than 3,000 people in Paginatan were expected to follow suit, in what could significantly strengthen the grassroots support of Gagasan Rakyat in the area.
His membership form and those of the other new members were handed over to Gagasan Rakyat deputy president Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun on Friday (July 10).
Former senior state civil servant and former Kota Kinabalu mayor Datuk Nordin Siman also submitted his application to join the party.
The move formalises the political realignment of Madingkir after he and four other Sabah STAR assemblymen announced in October last year that they would leave the party and remain with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) following the decision of Sabah STAR to exit the coalition.
Days later, Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan announced that the five assemblymen had resigned from the party.
Madingkir said the decision to join Gagasan Rakyat was made after careful consideration as he wanted to continue his political struggle through a party that prioritised Sabah and its people.
“Gagasan Rakyat carries the aspirations of the people of Sabah while strengthening the political stability that forms the foundation for the state's development and progress,” he said in a statement.
He pledged to help expand the grassroots presence of the party and work closely with the leadership to ensure the development agenda of Sabah continued to benefit the people.
Also joining Gagasan Rakyat were former Paginatan community development leader Hisyamuddin Harun, former Sabah STAR Paginatan deputy division chief Jius Konsuling and former Sabah STAR Paginatan youth chief Hillary Salmeon.
Gagasan Rakyat information chief Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan witnessed the handing-over ceremony.
