KOTA KINABALU, March 12 -- A long-anticipated merger between Sabah's two largest Kadazandusun-Murut-based parties is taking shape, with hopes of uniting fully before the state election later this year.

Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) president Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan said the process had begun at the Tambunan division level, where his elder brother, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, first established Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) during his tenure as the state assemblyman.

"We would like to get it done as soon as possible, whether or not there is an election. But the only thing is neither party wants to disappear in the process," said Jeffrey.

"So we can retain both by merging the names to 'PBStar'. That way, both get to keep their name a...