Kitingan Calls Pas Appointment Unfortunate But Has Kind Words For Aliakbar

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Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) has described PAS' entry into the Sabah legislative assembly as "unfortunate", but had kind words for the latter's new unelected legislator Aliakbar Gulasan.
In a statement today, Star president Jeffrey Kitingan (above) said Star was steadfast in its principle that any party whose ideals are not compatible with Sabah's multicultural values and sensitivity should be rejected.
"PAS leaders have time and again issued statements that upset the feelings and sentiments of multicultural and multireligious Sabah.
"Sabahans do not need a political party to teach them about unity between religions. Sabah is the shining example of multireligious unity together with our neighbour Sarawak," Kitingan said.
However, he said Star's position should not be construed as an attack on Aliakbar, because the latter had publicly disapproved of a PAS leader's statement concerning the Bible in Parliament.
"The comment deeply offended Christians in Sabah and Sarawak and Aliakbar, as a Sabahan, is in touch with the reality of Sabah," he added. 

Aliakbar Gulasan
Meanwhile, Kitingan stressed that Aliakbar's had no ministerial duties and his appointment was the prerogative of the chief minister.
In view of this, Kitingan urged Star members and the public to keep calm and not be provoked by the opposition.
"We have lots of work to do and politics should be put on the back burner for now or else, we would end up like the previous state government - no action talk only," he said.
The Sabah PAS secretary was among four individuals who were made unelected Sabah lawmakers today.
PAS had stayed out of the Sabah state elections. All its previous attempts at winning a seat in Sabah have been unsuccessful. - Mkini

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