KOTA KINABALU, Sept 22 — Inanam Independent candidate Kenny Chua officially became a member of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) today just hours after the party president distanced himself from supposed STAR-friendly Independents.
At a membership ceremony attended by STAR information chief Jeffery Kumin, Chua told reporters that despite standing for the state election under an independent polling logo, the Inanam seat will effectively belong to STAR if he emerges victorious.
“If I win this seat as an indie, this seat belongs to STAR,” he said at the Menggatal Community Hall here this afternoon.
When asked to explain why he had decided to join STAR, the former PKR man said he wanted to return to his roots and focus on more local issues.
“Yes, it’s more localised, because I think it’s time we should be concentrating more on the local political scene.
“I have been with a national party for over 10 years, and I think that there are so many issues you can contribute, and it’s better if you go back to your roots,” he said.
When asked why specifically STAR, Chua said it was down to it being a local party with a leader in Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan, whom he said is well respected by Sabahans.
“It is a local party with a leader who has been to jail before and who has been fighting for the Sabah cause.
“No matter what people say about him, he is still our fighter for Sabah reforms, a Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but from Sabah,” he said.
Chua also said he hopes the work he has done on the ground for the people of Inanam would prove to be enough for him to win their votes once more.
“I have been on the ground during the last two years plus, so let the voters judge,” he said.
He also confirmed that despite now being an official member of STAR, he would still be using his chair logo commissioned by the Election Commission as an independent candidate for the remaining days of his campaign.
Chua, a former PKR man, is the incumbent of the Inanam seat but faces an uphill task in the 10-cornered battle.
He is up against his replacement in PKR’s Peto Galim, Liberal Democratic Party’s Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, William Majinbon from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Regina Lim from Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Terence Tsen from Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (Anak Negeri), Goh Fah Shun @ Francis Goh from Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan), and Mohd Hardy Abdullah from the United Sabah National Organisation (Usno).
Also contesting the seat are two independents Ngui Kuang Kee @ George Ngui, and Achmad Noorasyrul Noortaip
Voting is set to take place on September 26.
