KUCHING, June 27 — The Sarawak State Reform Party (STAR) and its Sabah counterpart are to go their separate ways after the Sarawak chapter changed its name at its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in Bau yesterday.

Now, the Sarawak chapter is known as the Sarawak Reform Party (REFORM), its president Lino Soo told Malay Mail Online today.

She explained that the name change was to better portray the party as a "truly Sarawakian and regional party”. "It is also part of a rebranding exercise for REFORM to face future elections, starting with the general election due in 2018,” she said. Soo said the rebranding exercise was to meet the demand from Sarawakians who want a regional party that can focus on fighting for their rights and protect the state’s interests.

Soo, a former president of non-governmental organisation Sarawak Association for People's Aspirations (SAPA), said REFORM will have a new logo.

The Sarawakian rights advocate said both she and Sabah STAR chairman Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan have agreed to separate so that his party can focus on Sabah issues.

STAR was formed in 1996 by former Sarawak National Party (SNAP) senior vice-president, the late Dr Patau Rubis after he was sacked as an assistant minister by the then Chief Minister Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.

On January 6, 2012, STAR opened its Sabah chapter with Jeffrey as its chairman. Contacted by Malay Mail Online, Jeffrey said Sabah STAR will be renamed Solidariti Tanah Ayer, but will keep to the acronym and the "star” that is its current logo.

He added that an EGM on the matter will be held either next month of August.

"I have met with the Registrar of Societies and they have told me that there should not be any problem,” the Bingkor assemblyman said.

"STAR will be a new political identity, but we will maintain our relationship with REFORM," he said.