KOTA KINABALU, SABAH – STAR Sabah President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan expects all members to sign up for their newly launched cooperative targeting inter-party growth and networking to the benefit of the State’s economy.
Projecting at least 10,000 applications this week, he told the media that the 390,000 other party members will soon follow suit.
“If this can be achieved the Star Sabah Cooperative is set to become the largest cooperative body in Sabah out of the preexisting 1600 which maxes out at only 2000 members on average…
“This is a chance for members to do economic and commercial good in line with the aspirations of the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan,” he said.
He added the move would indirectly generate income for the party as a whole.
“Recruitment would get the ball rolling which in turn generates funding. We don’t want to borrow money…You can imagine the social economic impact for the State in terms of trading, agriculture and tourism among the amplitude of sectors filled with opportunities…
“Even just for basic marketing purposes the impact would be substantial,” he said.
Unaware if it was the first political party cooperative for Sabah, Jeffrey said he didn’t care as long as there is an initiative to succeed and room for its members to develop themselves.
Commenting on the friendly seat snatching between STAR and PBS, the Deputy Chief Minister said both parties belonged to the same government which means teamwork is key.
“Any conflict of opinions or priorities is normal in politics. We are steadily working for the state and out primary objective is to increase synergy,” he said reminding leaders not to issue divisive statements.
Recently Kota Marudu Star said they would contest if PBS were to do so in Tambunan. Both constituents are regarded as bastions for the parties involved.
On the capacity of Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Jeffrey urged locals against boar hunting in fear of re-escalating cases of African Swine Flu (ASF).
“Culling by the state’s Department of Veterinary Services have chopped infection rates with Nabawan as the only district remaining with daily cases…
“The situation has been stabilized and major pork producing districts are now unaffected,” he said.
Although ASF is benign to humans he said it definitely affected livelihoods but given the pandemic it is not so much of scratch.
Origins of the porcine exclusive virus is still unclear but he was of the opinion that it may have came from the Philippines.
“World countries borders are closed but chance remains that this was brought in by foreigners who gained entry via rat trails,” he added noting that Sabah’s pork production is still under control.
