STAR president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has betrayed the people of the state by throwing in his lot with Barisan Nasional, said Sabah voters today.

To many of the 500 people gathered at the town square in Kota Kinabalu to watch the live telecast of the swearing in of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Kitingan had proved a disappointment. Some carried placards branding Kitingan a traitor for helping BN to form the state government.

Nadira Illana said the people were angry at Kitingan.

“No one has really said anything about Upko, only Jeffrey,” he said.

Yee I-Lann said Kitingan, the Keningau MP and Tambunan assemblyman, had betrayed not only those who voted for him, but all Sabahans.

“Of all people, he should know and understand the Sabahan sentiment best. What he did has made us lose faith in our leaders. He has betrayed the people,” she said.

STAR won two state seats Bingkor and Tambunan yesterday, significant victories that gave it the power to decide whether Warisan or BN would form the state government. In deciding to work with BN, the party president has ensured that the coalition remained in power in Sabah.

Adam Fistival, a PKR member, said Kitingan and Sabah BN chairman Musa Aman should be investigated for graft.

Businessman Alyvn Marcus said Kitingan should have stood behind Warisan but had instead elected to allow Sabah to become an opposition state with Pakatan Harapan in federal government. 

“He is nothing but a traitor and he has gone off-track in his cause to demand the return of the state’s rights.

“I’m not sure what his cause is now; whether it is genuinely for the Sabahan people or for his own personal interests.

“Given BN’s bad record, how he is able to join forces with it is a mystery.”

Some participants who had come to watch the swearing-in of the new prime minister said the crowd had grown out of control, using the event as a platform to express their anger at the way BN had managed to return to power in Sabah.

Security has been tight yesterday and today at the roads leading to Istana Negeri and Sri Gaya. – May 10, 2018.