Bernama reported Kitingan as saying his party would hold a special meeting tomorrow to determine the fate of the five who continued to support the coalition despite the party’s withdrawal.

“I have given them a week to decide whether they want to continue with STAR or not and that period ends tomorrow,” he was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, STAR deputy president Ellron Alfred Angin and three party vice-presidents – Abidin Madingkir, Annuar Ayub and Flovia Ng – said they would continue backing GRS.

The four had also joined chief minister Hajiji Noor as he announced the state assembly’s dissolution, paving the way for the 17th state election.

Ellron later said that another deputy president, Robert Tawik, would also be sticking with GRS in the state polls.

All five STAR leaders are reportedly set to apply to become direct GRS members so that they can run for election on the coalition’s ticket.

Last night, Kitingan said he accepted the decision of the five to continue supporting GRS, adding that it was anticipated.

Kitingan led STAR out of GRS after insisting that the ruling state coalition should not proceed with its electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan, a move he said that went against the wishes of grassroots members who wanted locally led representation.

Separately, Bernama also reported that Hajiji had chaired a GRS Supreme Council meeting today, its first after the dissolution of the Sabah state legislative assembly.

Among those in attendance were Ellron, Parti Bersatu Sabah acting president Joachim Gunsalam, United Sabah National Organisation president Pandikar Amin Mulia and Liberal Democratic Party president Chin Su Phin.