The man has been suspended from the party, said STAR secretary-general Guan Dee Koh Hoi.

He said the party has decided to suspend the member from his position as a coordinator in one of STAR’s parliamentary divisions near the state capital, effective immediately.

Guan Dee said the decision was taken after the allegations involving the member, which also implicated the party, went viral over social media today.

“The disciplinary board will meet soon to decide whether to sack him from STAR,” he said in a statement today.

“This action shows the party leadership is always open to listening to the grouses by everyone, especially from STAR members.

“We ask that everyone take time to calm down. STAR views this seriously.”

Guan Dee explained that two police reports have actually been lodged against the member.

The first one involved claims of harassment made by an Unduk Ngadau contestant while the other is for allegedly roughing up a security personnel at the KDCA hall recently.

Earlier today, Sabah police chief Hazani Ghazali promised a thorough investigation into the claim by the Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan contestant that she was molested by a member of the beauty pageant’s organising team.

Hazani noted the probe will be carried out without fear or favour, adding the outcome will be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for the next course of action.

Social media was awash with negative comments from netizens lambasting the alleged act after a police report purportedly lodged by one of the contestants on May 21 was posted online earlier today.

In the report, the contestant claimed the individual in question had touched her thighs, neck, hands and the back of her body when they were in the latter’s vehicle.