Kitingan Insists On Sabah Unity Talks Amid Kdm Denial

---

 


Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Jeffrey Kitingan asserted that he had met with Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) leaders - despite the latter denying it.
Kitingan said there were no official negotiations, but the meeting had touched on the need for local parties to present a unified front for the future of Sabah through his proposed Gerakan Bersatu Sabah (GBS).
"We have not negotiated, but we have met and talked about this issue.
“If they (KDM) deny it, that is up to them. But we talked about the need (for GBS). We are united for Sabah and also for victory,” Kitingan (above) told Astro Awani at a Star event in Kota Belud, Sabah, today.
Yesterday, KDM deputy president Wetrom Bahanda denied that his party had discussed an alliance with other parties, including Star.
KDM deputy president Wetrom BahandaRefuting reports claiming that he had met with Kitingan about the possibility of KDM joining GBS, Wetrom said his party will be flying solo in the upcoming Sabah election.
The day before, Kitingan said he had been in talks with several local-based party leaders keen on joining GBS, a new political bloc formed by former Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) parties - Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) and Star.
He also said that he had spoken to Wetrom about KDM joining GBS, but remained doubtful given the party’s earlier announcement that it would contest 38 seats.
Commenting further, Kitingan said political ego has become an obstacle to the unification of local parties.
"This has been the problem in Sabah all along because everyone wants to be a hero.
"This time we need to unite, set aside our differences, because we want to change and win together. If that is their (local parties’) goal too, we need to unite,” he said.
He added that GBS will be formed either before or after the state election.
ADSWave of change
For now, GBS is expected to remain an ad hoc alliance with Star and SAPP as its core components.
Both parties parted ways from GRS early this month after they decided to contest under their own logos.
They also opposed the GRS decision to grant wide concessions to its federal ally Pakatan Harapan in seat negotiations for the state election.
GBS plans to contest in all 73 seats, making clashes with former ally GRS inevitable.
Kitingan further claimed that a wave of change is sweeping through the state, saying he takes it as a sign that Sabahans want a new government formed by a coalition of local parties.
"It will peak when voting day comes. Maybe after the nomination day, it will peak.
“I am confident that this change will happen because the people of Sabah have understood what needs to be done,” he added.
Sabah will head to the polls on Nov 29, with early voting set for Nov 25. - FMT

---