Jeffrey Kitingan Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Yang Berhormat Datuk Seri Panglima Dr.
Jeffrey Kitingan
Office10:Other roles
Subterm10:2018–2019
Suboffice10:Leader of the Opposition of the
Sabah State Legislative Assembly
Birth Name:Gapari bin Katingan @ Geoffrey Kitingan
Birth Date:1948 10, df=yes
Birth Place:Kota Marudu, Crown Colony of North Borneo (now Sabah, Malaysia)
Office4:Ministerial roles (Sabah)
Subterm4:2018
Suboffice4:Deputy Chief Minister
Subterm5:2018
Suboffice5:Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries
Subterm6:2020–2023
Suboffice6:Deputy Chief Minister II
Subterm7:2020–2023
Suboffice7:Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
Subterm8:2023–
Suboffice8:Deputy Chief Minister I
Subterm9:2023–
Suboffice9:Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
Office1:Ministerial roles
Subterm1:1994–1995
Suboffice1:Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government
Subterm2:2020
Suboffice2:Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture
Spouse:Cecilia Edwin Kitingan (current)
Susan Kitingan (separated)
Known For:Founder and first president of STAR SABAH Party in 2016
Party:United Sabah Party (PBS)
People's Justice Front (AKAR)
Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS)
People's Justice Party (PKR) [1] [2] [3]
State Reform Party (STAR Sabah branch) [4]
Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR Sabah) [5]
Otherparty:Gagasan Rakyat (GR)
Barisan Nasional (BN)
Pakatan Rakyat (PR)
United Sabah Alliance (USA)
Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS)
Perikatan Nasional (PN)
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) [6]
Relations:Joseph Pairin Kitingan (brother)
Maximus Ongkili (nephew)
James Peter Ongkili (nephew)
Alma Mater:Harvard University (MA)
Tufts University (PhD)
Office1:Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
Subterm1:2018–2020
Suboffice1:Homeland Solidarity Party
Subterm2:2020–2022
Suboffice2:Perikatan Nasional
Subterm3:2022–
Suboffice3:Gabungan Rakyat Sabah
Office4:Faction represented in Dewan Negara
Subterm4:1994–1996
Suboffice4:Barisan Nasional
Subterm5:1996–1997
Suboffice5:United Sabah Party
Office8:Faction represented in Sabah State Legislative Assembly
Subterm8:1994
Suboffice8:United Sabah Party
Subterm9:1994–1996
Suboffice9:Barisan Nasional
Subterm10:1996–2001
Suboffice10:United Sabah Party
Subterm11:2001–2003
Suboffice11:Barisan Nasional
Subterm12:2003–2004
Suboffice12:Independent
Subterm13:2013–2018
Suboffice13:State Reform Party
Subterm14:2018–2020
Suboffice14:Homeland Solidarity Party
Subterm15:2020–2022
Suboffice15:Perikatan Nasional
Subterm16:2022–
Suboffice16:Gabungan Rakyat Sabah

Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan (born 22 October 1948, also known as DDJK or DSPDJK since 2021) is Malaysian politician who has served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah I since January 2023 and State Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries of Sabah for the second term since September 2020. He served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah II from October 2020 to his promotion in January 2023 and the first term in the position in May 2018. In January 2023, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister I of Sabah succeeding Bung Mokhtar, who was dropped due to a political crisis (but retained his ministerial portfolio). At the federal level, he served as the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture from March 2020 to his resignation in September 2020 and Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government from August 1994 to May 1995. He has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Keningau since May 2018, Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Tambunan since May 2018 and Bingkor from May 2013 to May 2018. He has served and been founding President of the Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR), a component party of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and a former component party of the federal and state ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition,[7] since July 2016.

Background

He was born in the town of Kota Marudu but hailed from the interior district of Tambunan. He graduated with an Master of Public Administration[8] from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.[9] He has a PhD awarded in 1984 from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.[10] His brother, Joseph Pairin Kitingan served as the Chief Minister of Sabah from 1985 to 1994.

Political career

He is known to be a controversial politician, having been detained without trial under the Internal Security Act by the Barisan Nasional-controlled federal government on suspicion of plotting to secede Sabah from the federation of Malaysia, although his defenders argue that this was a politically motivated move.[9] [11]

He is also known to have switched political parties a number of times. In 1990, he started his political career together with his brother Joseph Pairin Kitingan in Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). However, after the 1994 state election, he abandoned his brother and PBS to join Angkatan Keadilan Rakyat (AKAR) party, leading to the downfall of the PBS government in Sabah. He tried to climb to the top post of the AKAR party but failed and rejoined PBS in 1996. However, in 2000, he quit PBS again and joined Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), tried to take over the party but failed again.[12] He then quit the PBRS party in 2002 and tried to join United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO). However, he quickly withdrew his membership application from UPKO and tried to join back PBS again for the third time, but PBS did not welcome him back into the party. In 2003, he applied to join the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) twice: one through UMNO headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, but was rejected. He then applied another membership through UMNO Keningau branch in Sabah using his legal name "Gapari bin Kitingan @ Geoffrey Kitingan" and was mistakenly accepted by UMNO. Jeffrey was able to produce his UMNO membership card. However, once the UMNO supreme council realised their error, they immediately revoked Jeffrey's membership.[12] [13] [14]

Jeffrey remained independent of any party until he was accepted into Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in 2006 where he became the vice-president of the party. He resigned his vice-president post in 2009 but remained as a party member. In December 2010, Jeffrey founded a NGO named United Borneo Alliance (UBA), which aimed to strive the rights of Sabah and Sarawak in accordance to 20-point agreement and Malaysia Agreement.[15] He finally quit the PKR party in January 2011. In 2012, Jeffrey launched the Sabah chapter of Sarawak-based State Reform Party (STAR). in 2015, he brought his UBA into United Sabah Alliance (USA),[16] just before he brought his Sabah chapter out of the Sarawak-based STAR to establish a Sabah-based party named Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR) in 2016.

In the 2008 general election, he challenged his brother Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin from BN-PBS at the Keningau parliamentary constituency, but lost. Instead he won the Sabah State Legislative constituency of Bingkor.[17]

Jeffrey has been referred as political "frog" (katak in Malay) for his penchant of party hopping throughout his political career.[18] [19] Jeffrey responded by commenting that party hopping has been the common practice in Sabah politics.[20] He defended himself that he switches parties in order to find the one that is suitable to fight for the rights of the Sabah people.[5]

2018 state election decision maker and subsequent results

Following the 2018 general election, the BN and the coalition of Pakatan Harapan (PH) with Sabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) are tied up with 29-29 seats in the 2018 Sabah state election.[21] Jeffrey with his party of Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR) under the United Sabah Alliance (USA) which are not aligned from either the two sides, has won two seats in the election and subsequently emerged as the decision maker for the formation of a state government from the two sides.[22] He then decide to team up with the BN to form coalition state government with him appointed as a Deputy Chief Minister while Musa Aman from BN continue to become the Chief Minister for another 5 years under the new coalition government.[23] His decision to maintain the position of BN in Sabah then drew many criticism from Sabahan residents who want to see a change under the administration of a new state government with many began to labelling him as a "traitor" towards the state,[24] especially when he was once a staunch opposition towards BN rule before the election.[24] It is also reported that before the election, Jeffrey has been issue with 7-days bankruptcy notice.[25] Following his sudden decision to work with BN, the Sabah branch of PKR has urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe the two individuals, citing a “possibility of money changing hands between the two” that could leading to a sudden political partnership.[26] Following the complaint, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad announced that they will not recognise the election in Sabah if corruption involved.[27] Situation also change when six seats assemblymen from the BN allied party of UPKO switched their allegiance to WARISAN, giving the Shafie Apdal party an advantage with 35 seats which sufficient to establish a valid state government.[28] In addition, the Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri (TYT) Juhar Mahiruddin also had requested Musa to step down from his position,[29] [30] as Musa current position has contravened the Article 7(1) of the Sabah State Constitution when he lost the total majority state seats.[31] [32] On 14 May 2018, a letter from TYT are being delivered to Musa residence which stating that he is no longer the Chief Minister effective from 12 May 2018.[33] [34]

During the 2020 Malaysian political crisis, Jeffrey supported Mahathir Mohamad to be reinstated as Prime Minister after his resignation.[35]

2020 state election

In the 2020 Sabah state election, he agreed to lead his party, STAR to join the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition in unseating the Warisan Plus coalition. This resulted in his party winning 6 seats in the state election, Jeffrey himself won the Tambunan seat. After winning the election, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister II, serving with Datuk Bung Mokhtar as Deputy Chief Minister I and Datuk Dr. Joachim Gunsalam as Deputy Chief Minister III.

On the day of his appointment as Deputy Chief Minister II, he resigned as Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.[36]

Carbon credit deal

In late 2021, Mongabay reported that Jeffrey was involved in a carbon credit deal that was signed in October 2021 that declared 2 million hectares as protected areas, without the consultation of indigenous peoples residing there.[37] [38] Civil society groups and indigenous leaders were critical over the secrecy of the agreement and whether the carbon accrediting company, Hoch Standard, had prior experience to implement it.[39]

Personal life

Jeffrey is currently married to Cecilia Edwin Kitingan, a fellow native of Tambunan who hailed from a village named Kampung Monsok (he was from another village known as Kampung Karanaan), whilst he is separated from his Caucasian American wife, Susan.

In January 2021, Jeffrey tested positive for COVID-19 and underwent treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.[40] Both Jeffrey and his wife were recovered and discharged from hospital after about two weeks later.[41]

Election results

Year!
ConstituencyVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout
1995P147 Bandau, Sabah (AKAR)5,85134.98%Maximus Ongkili (PBS)10,71664.06%16,927 4,865 69.72%
Jomilon Mojuntin (IND)1620.97%
2008P180 Keningau, Sabah (PKR)10,33440.53%Joseph Pairin Kitingan (PBS)14,59857.27%25,956 4,264 72.96%
Peter Kodou (DAP)5602.20%
2013 (STAR)11,90033.48%Joseph Pairin Kitingan (PBS)15,81844.50%36,098 3,918 82.73%
Stephen Sandor (PKR)7,82522.02%
2018 (STAR)13,28633.09%2Jake Nointin (WARISAN)13,24132.98%240,671 45 79.02%
Daniel Kinsik (PBS)12,74231.74%2
Jius Awang (PCS)4331.08%
Maimin Rijan (IND)2480.62%
Justin Guka (IND)1990.50%
2022 (STAR)23,15542.20%Grelydia Gillod (DAP)15,09927.52%55,5428,056 62.65%
Jake Nointin (KDM)9,59817.49%
Rasinin Kautis (WARISAN)7,02012.79%
Year!
ConstituencyVotesPctOpponent(s)VotesPctBallots castMajorityTurnout
1994N25 Bingkor, P156 Kinabalu (PBS)6,40868.57%Injon Sedomon (PBRS)2,24924.07%9,415 4,159 78.06%
Ayub Aman (IND)6887.36%
1999N28 Bingkor, P157 Keningau (PBS)8,33961.19%Joseph Kurup (PBRS)4,87135.75%13,744 3,468 72.30%
Kuilan Anggau (BERSEKUTU)3952.90%
Peter Kodou (IND)220.16%
2004N37 Sook, P182 Pensiangan (IND)3,57845.83%Joseph Kurup (PBRS)3,97350.90%7,984 395 70.53%
Yapilin Nawawi (IND)2553.27%
2008N33 Bingkor, P180 Keningau (PKR)4,41847.51%Justin Guka (UPKO)4,58949.34%9,455 171 70.88%
Uling Anggan (IND)1641.76%
Victor Leornadus (IND)1291.39%
2013 (STAR)5,35042.05%Kennedy Jie John (UPKO)4,89438.47%12,908 456 81.40%
Ahmad Shah Hussein Tambakau (PKR)2,36818.61%
Ricky Sedomon (IND)1110.87%
2018N32 Tambunan, P180 Keningau (STAR)6,13646.78%Joseph Pairin Kitingan (PBS)5,09938.86%13,322 1,037 82.00%
Justin Alip (WARISAN)1,42710.88%
Nestor Joannes (PCS)4563.48%
2020N39 Tambunan, P180 Keningau (STAR)8,69175.21%Laurentius Nayan Yambu (UPKO)1,89916.44%11,555 6,792 69.98%
Silverius Bruno (PBS)4393.80%
Damian Richard Marcus Podtung (PCS)3262.82%
bgcolor=blue Nordin Jaini (GAGASAN)1401.21%
Jimmy Palikat (IND)600.52%

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

Kadazan, Dusun, Murut & Rungus (KDMR) tribes honours

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. News: Tony. Thien. Jeffrey Kitingan speaks up as new PKR man. 10 May 2018. English. Malaysiakini. 14 October 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061105115137/https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/58212. 5 November 2006.
  2. News: PKR Sabah rocked as VP Jeffrey quits. 10 May 2018. The Sun Daily. 28 October 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803012405/http://www.thesundaily.my/node/149870. 3 August 2017.
  3. News: Hisyamuddin. Ayub. Jeffrey sah keluar PKR (Jeffrey confirmed to quit PKR). 10 May 2018. Malay. Utusan Malaysia. 4 January 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510195959/http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=0104&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Politik&pg=po_01.htm. 10 May 2018.
  4. News: Jeffrey Kitingan to Launch STAR Sabah. 10 May 2018. Bernama. 4 January 2012 . Malaysian Digest. usurped. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510190315/http://www.malaysiandigest.com/archived/index.php/12-news/local2/144-jeffrey-kitingan-to-launch-star-sabah.html. 10 May 2018.
  5. News: Jeffrey ends his party-hopping days with STAR approval. 10 May 2018. The Star. 14 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510190103/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/07/14/jeffrey-ends-his-party-hopping-days-with-star-approval/. 10 May 2018.
  6. News: STAR guna logo GRS pada PRU-15. 11 January 2023. Utusan Malaysia. 22 August 2022.
  7. Web site: Sabah STAR quits Perikatan. The Star. 5 December 2022. 5 December 2022.
  8. Web site: Harvard alumni database.
  9. Web site: Kennedy School Graduate Held Prisoner. Marion B. Gammill. The Harvard Crimson. 10 February 1992. 14 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20071011105216/https://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=221545. 11 October 2007. dead.
  10. Web site: Political Stability and Economic Development in Malaysia . .
  11. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engASA280061999 "MALAYSIA, Human Rights Undermined: Restrictive Laws in a Parliamentary Democracy"
  12. Book: James. Chin. SABAH AND SARAWAK The More Things Change the More They Remain the Same. 2004. Institute of Southeast Asian studies. Singapore. 11 May 2018. With such a colourful track record, it was no surprise that Sabah UMNO refused to take him, ....
  13. News: Adnan: Jeffrey not an Umno member. 10 May 2018. The Star. 29 May 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510193124/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2003/05/29/adnan--jeffrey-not-an-umno-member/. 10 May 2018.
  14. News: Umno rejects Jeffrey's application. 11 May 2018. The Star. 6 June 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20180511202616/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2003/06/06/umno-rejects-jeffreys-application/. 11 May 2018.
  15. Web site: Jeffrey Kitingan forms United Borneo Front to get more for Sabah, Sarawak. Bernama. The Star. 16 December 2010. 27 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20101217190201/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F12%2F16%2Fnation%2F20101216200241&sec=nation. 17 December 2010. dead.
  16. News: Opposition parties form United Sabah Alliance. 12 May 2018. Daily Express. 10 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20180412114657/http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=97773. 12 April 2018.
  17. Web site: Malaysia elections: Opposition wave fails to win Sabah. The Star/Asia News Network. AsiaOne. 6 May 2013. 13 January 2016. 24 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160624233550/http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20130506-420505.html. dead.
  18. Book: Chin. Kin Wah. Southeast Asian Affairs 2004. 2004. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. 9789812302380. 157. registration. 10 May 2018. Jeffrey's political career is typical of what Sabahans referred to as katak (frog).
  19. Book: Ung. Ho Chin. Regime change and regime maintenance in Asia and Pacific - Discussion paper No 24 - "Kataks", Kadazan-Dusun nationalism and development: The 1999 Sabah state election. 1999. The Department of Political and Social Change - Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies The Australian National University. Australia. 15. 10 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180323212518/http://pacificinstitute.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/resources-links/PSC_Regime_WP_24.pdf. 23 March 2018. The more prominent Kataks prior to the elections are listed below. dead.
  20. News: Luke. Rintod. We are all frogs, even Musa and Pairin. 11 May 2018. Free Malaysia Today. 26 June 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120704134313/http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/06/26/we-are-all-frogs-even-musa-and-pairin/. 4 July 2012.
  21. Web site: Hung assembly in Sabah sees intense political horse-trading. Muguntan Vanar. Fatimah Zainal. The Star. 10 May 2018. 11 May 2018.
  22. Web site: Hung assembly in Sabah, Star to be kingmaker. Alyaa Azhar. Malaysiakini. 10 May 2018. 11 May 2018.
  23. Web site: Jeffrey forms pact with BN to form coalition state government. Chok Simyee. The Borneo Post. 10 May 2018. 11 May 2018.
  24. Web site: Sabahans call Jeffrey Kitingan a 'traitor' for helping BN form state govt. Natasha Joibi. The Star. 10 May 2018. 11 May 2018.
  25. Web site: Jeffrey Kitingan hit with seven-day bankruptcy notice. Muguntan Vanar. The Star. 25 April 2018. 11 May 2018.
  26. Web site: Sabah PKR wants MACC to probe Musa Aman, Jeffrey Kitingan. Zurairi Ar. The Malay Mail. MSN. 11 May 2018. 11 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180511045640/https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/myge14/sabah-pkr-wants-macc-to-probe-musa-aman-jeffrey-kitingan/ar-AAx48Ha?li=BBr8Mk9. 11 May 2018. dead.
  27. Web site: PM: We will not recognise polls in Sabah if corruption involved. Geraldine Tong. Malaysiakini. 11 May 2018. 11 May 2018.
  28. Web site: Warisan now has 35 seats, enough to form state government: Shafie [NSTTV]]. Avila Geraldine. Norasikin Daineh. New Straits Times. 11 May 2018. 12 May 2018.
  29. Web site: Tun Juhar arah Musa letak jawatan. Rodelio Junjun Taucan. Malay. Utusan Malaysia. 12 May 2018. 13 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180512204839/http://www.utusan.com.my/berita/politik/tun-juhar-arah-musa-letak-jawatan-1.671428. 12 May 2018. dead.
  30. Web site: Warisan tidak akan sama dengan UMNO - Shafie Apdal. Ruzaini Zulkepli. Malay. Astro Awani. 13 May 2018. 13 May 2018.
  31. Web site: Shafie's appointment constitutionally valid – lawyer. Suraini Andokong. The Borneo Post. 13 May 2018. 13 May 2018.
  32. Web site: Constitution of the State of Sabah [LIST OF AMENDMENTS]]. State Government of Sabah. 13 May 2018.
  33. Web site: Istana serah surat kepada Musa. Malay. Berita Harian. 14 May 2018. 14 May 2018.
  34. Web site: [BREAKING] Musa Aman Is No Longer Chief Minister Of Sabah]. Samantha Khor. Says.com. 14 May 2018. 14 May 2018.
  35. Web site: 2020-02-29. Dr M publishes list of 115 MPs, hopes Agong will accept. 2022-02-14. Malaysiakini.
  36. News: Hassan . Assim . Jeffrey Kitingan confirms resignation as deputy minister . 6 January 2021 . Astro AWANI . September 29, 2020.
  37. Web site: 2021-11-09. Bornean communities locked into 2-million-hectare carbon deal they don't know about. 2022-02-14. Mongabay Environmental News. en-US.
  38. Web site: 2022-02-10. Malaysian officials dampen prospects for giant, secret carbon deal in Sabah. 2022-02-14. Mongabay Environmental News. en-US.
  39. Web site: 2021-12-17. Indigenous leader sues over Borneo natural capital deal. 2022-02-14. Mongabay Environmental News. en-US.
  40. News: Vanar . Muguntan . Jeffrey Kitingan tests positive for Covid-19 . 5 January 2021 . . 4 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210104133733/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/01/04/jeffrey-kitingan-tests-positive-for-covid-19 . 4 January 2021. live.
  41. News: Here's the full list of Malaysia's ministers, lawmakers who tested Covid-19 positive in January. Ida Lim. 27 January 2021. Malay Mail. 28 August 2021.
  42. Web site: Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat. 2021-11-13.
  43. Web site: Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat. Bahagian Istiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa. Prime Minister's Department (Malaysia).
  44. Web site: 2 October 2020. 3 October 2020. The Star Online. Ismail Sabri, Hamzah Zainudin head list of 679 Sabah award recipients.
  45. Web site: 3 October 2020. Malay. Berita Harian. Hamzah Zainudin, Ismail Sabri antara empat dapat Datuk Seri Panglima Sabah. 2 October 2020.
  46. Web site: Humbled Jeffrey Kitingan Installed 'Huguan Siou Lundu Mirongod' | Borneo Today .