Syahruddin Awang Ahmad of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) said the former deputy chief minister initially declared that he would sit in the opposition in the state legislative assembly.

“Accepting a role in government goes against this principle,” he told FMT.

Syahruddin also said Kitingan’s appointment inadvertently suggested that STAR was now a strategic ally of the state government, nullifying its role as the opposition.

He said Kitingan’s chairmanship blurred the line between STAR’s role as a check and balance and that of a policy executor.

“His decision to accept the role will give the impression that party ideology takes a backseat to (government) posts.”

Kitingan was appointed SAMA chairman on Friday.

After his party won two seats in the Sabah state election last November, Kitingan said that STAR would serve in the opposition instead of joining the state government.

However, STAR’s Bingkor assemblyman Ishak Ayub was later made assistant finance minister, purportedly with Kitingan’s blessing.

Kitingan led STAR out of ruling coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah prior to the state polls.

Analyst Bilcher Bala however defended Kitingan, saying the Tambunan assemblyman was not a prominent critic of the state government.

Bilcher, also of UMS, described Kitingan’s acceptance of the appointment as “political pragmatism”.

“Political survival for relatively small parties depends very much on access to funds and power to help voters. He can now gain credibility as an opposition leader who can ensure that projects are carried out and act as a bridge between the people and resources.”

Bilcher said that in this context, the credibility of an opposition leader in Sabah was relative.

“They can lack integrity, but they are very pragmatic as their survival hinges on access to funds and power, not just rhetoric.”