PKR SEPANGGAR DISSOLVED TO JOIN STAR

Dear Editor,

I WAS elected Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Divisional Head for the Party’s Sepanggar Division in 2010 but I have lost confidence in the national and state leadership of PKR and I therefore quit from being a member of this party, effective from today.

I, together with my 18 colleagues in Sepanggar division, youth and woman wings, arrived at this decision to quit PKR as we have found out that PKR is not sincere in listening to the aspirations of Sabahans.

We do not think PKR has the heart to struggle for Sabah’s rights and its inherent autonomy privilege as being sought by Sabahans to be retained or restored.

Sabahans just could not rely on another Malaya-based political party to speak for them. PKR national leadership more often than not, tries to curtail in their own style our freedom to speak up on our rights. What PKR wants are just a few seats from Sabah, that is all.

Their arrogant attitude in unilaterally announcing that they will increase oil royalty from 5% to 20% to Sabah, reflects their inner conscience that they believed our oil is already their oil and it is dependent on them whether to give or not, whereas the oil and gas should be ours in the first place.

The PKR’s promise to empower us in Sabah and Sarawak and give us autonomous power is merely a lip-service to entice Sabahans to support this Malaya-based party. In reality, national PKR leaders took power from us and trampled on our very autonomy in selecting our own leaders. This they had proven during party elections.

We do not want Sabahans to end like in a saying 'from frying pan into the fire' or 'keluar mulut buaya, tapi masuk mulut harimau'.

I hereby announce my decision to join the State Reform Party (STAR) under the able leadership of President Dr Dripin Sakoi and its Sabah Chapter Chairman, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

I am joining STAR because it is led by Dr Jeffrey who had a proven track record of being the most steadfast state leader who fights for state rights and autonomy based on the Malaysian Agreement itself, the 20 Points and also pledges by founding fathers who subscribed to the recommendations of the Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) and the Cobbold Commission.

We are also in STAR because this Party is a local East Malaysian party that has a clear Borneo Agenda for Sabah.

Thank you.

MR FELIX SITAUN