Bingkor assemblyman Mohd Ishak Ayub says he received Jeffrey Kitingan’s blessing to join the GRS-led state government, despite STAR remaining in opposition
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Mohd Ishak Ayub claims his appointment as a member of the state government leadership had been conveyed to Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan yesterday.
The Bingkor assemblyman said he had yet to meet the STAR president in person to obtain further clarification regarding his position in the government following the party’s unchanged stance of remaining in the opposition bloc.
“I have already informed the president (Jeffrey). The president gave his blessing to me yesterday. That is the situation right now.
“I still have to see my president, because he is my president. I’m still a party member. I don’t know in legal terms whether it’s okay for me to be in the government, so I cannot say much at the moment yet,” he told Bernama after the swearing-in ceremony at Istana Seri Kinabalu.
A total of 17 assemblymen took the oath of office as Sabah assistant ministers before Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Musa Aman, in a ceremony also attended by his wife Toh Puan Faridah Tussin.
Earlier, Jeffrey stressed in a statement that STAR was not part of the GRS-led state government, choosing instead to remain in the opposition bloc, and that Mohd Ishak’s action today was his personal decision and not reflective of the party’s position.
Mohd Ishak said any decision regarding his status would be discussed with the party president, including legal aspects and whether the position aligned with STAR’s current stance.
At the same time, he emphasised that his role as an elected representative must continue to be carried out regardless of whether he was in the government or the opposition, for the sake of Sabah’s interests.
Commenting on the new GRS government, he said he believed the continuity of the previous five-year administration would ease the completion of pending projects.
“GRS has been in government for five years and this is continuity. This is the continuation of what has been done over the past five years. So the people have given a mandate for the new government to remain GRS-led. I believe pending works will be completed after this,” he said.
“After all, the STAR party has the slogan ‘Unity is Duty’. So we have to unite somehow, whether we are on the opposition side or the government side. So I hope I’ll be the bridge to unite all the local parties,” he said.
For the latest news on the 17th Sabah State Election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/sabah/index.php
