The division’s deputy chief, Ramanus Michael, said the decision was made after careful consideration of the current political direction and in recognition of the leadership of Liawan’s assemblyman Annuar Ayub, The Borneo Post reported.
Michael said all committee members of the division chose to stand with Annuar, whom they described as a leader who had “demonstrated sincerity, tangible work, and a clear vision for the future of Liawan”.
Annuar, a party vice-president, is one of the five former STAR leaders who resigned after breaking ranks with their president Jeffrey Kitingan and backed GRS.
The other four are STAR’s deputy president Ellron Alfred Angin (non-Muslim), his Muslim Bumiputera counterpart Robert Tawik, and vice-presidents Abidin Madingkir and Flovia Ng.
Michael said the division’s decision was guided by “honesty, trust and commitment” to the people’s welfare, not party sentiment or emotions.
“We are not looking back. We are not bound by symbols or colours, because our struggle is rooted in integrity and conviction.
“With Annuar, we move forward. With GRS, we continue to build a progressive, stable, and competitive Liawan,” he was quoted as saying.
The division’s decision to leave the party, effective immediately, was formally conveyed in a letter addressed to the STAR president at the party’s headquarters in Kota Kinabalu.
The Liawan division is the second division to leave STAR this week and pledge its support for GRS, after the Bandau division in Kota Marudu, which did so on Oct 12.
On Oct 6, it was reported that STAR’s Kuamut division defied Kitingan by expressing its loyalty to GRS for the upcoming state election.
The division’s head, Mandik Yadam, said a special divisional meeting was held two days ago where the leadership agreed not to field a candidate for the Kuamut seat and to support the GRS candidate instead.
He said the division respected the party president’s position, but had decided at the grassroots level to remain with Kuamut GRS under the leadership of Masiung Banah.
STAR and the Sabah Progressive Party left GRS over the ruling coalition’s electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan.