KOTA KINABALU, Oct. 7 -- Fresh from leaving the governing Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has announced that the party will contest the upcoming 17th Sabah state election under its own banner and called for a fully Sabahan movement.

Declaring the move part of a push for self-determination to reclaim Sabah's political autonomy and dignity, Kitingan said the state must be governed by "true sons and daughters of the soil" - patriotic Sabahans committed to protecting its dignity and autonomy.

"Sabah must be led by Sabahans who love this land, not by weak leaders, traitors, or parties that take instructions from Malaya," he said in a statement late last night...