Jeffrey Kitingan | |
|---|---|
 Jeffrey in 2015 | |
| Federal Ministerial Roles | |
| 1994–1995 | Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government |
| 2020 | Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture |
| Ministerial Roles (Sabah) | |
| 2018 | Deputy Chief Minister |
| 2018 | Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries |
| 2020–2023 | Deputy Chief Minister II |
| 2020–2023 | Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries |
| 2023– | Deputy Chief Minister I |
| 2023– | Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Other roles | |
| 2018–2019 | Leader of the Opposition of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gapari bin Katingan @ Geoffrey Kitingan (1947-10-22)22 October 1947 (age 78) |
| Political party | United Sabah Party (PBS) (1990–1995; 1996–2001)[1] People's Justice Front (AKAR) (1995–1996)[1] Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) (2001–2003) People's Justice Party (PKR) (2006–2011)[2][3][4] State Reform Party (STAR Sabah branch)(2011–2016)[5] Homeland Solidarity Party (STAR) (since 2016)[6] |
| Other political affiliations | Gagasan Rakyat (GR) (1990–1996) Barisan Nasional (BN) (2001–2003) Pakatan Rakyat (PR) (2006–2011) United Sabah Alliance (USA) (2016–2018) Gabungan Bersatu Sabah (GBS) (2018–2020) Perikatan Nasional (PN) (2020–2022) Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) (member since 2020, as registered coalition since 2022)[7] |
| Spouse(s) | Cecilia Edwin Yatam-Kitingan(current) Susan Kitingan(separated) |
| Relations | Joseph Pairin Kitingan (elder brother) Maximus Ongkili (nephew) James Peter Ongkili (nephew) |
| Alma mater | Harvard University (MA) Tufts University (PhD) |
| Known for | Founder and first president ofSTAR Party in 2016 |
Jeffrey Kitingan | |
|---|---|
| Faction represented inDewan Rakyat | |
| 2018–2020 | Homeland Solidarity Party |
| 2020–2022 | Perikatan Nasional |
| 2022– | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah |
| Faction represented inDewan Negara | |
| 1994–1996 | Barisan Nasional |
| 1996–1997 | United Sabah Party |
| Faction represented inSabah State Legislative Assembly | |
| 1994 | United Sabah Party |
| 1994–1996 | Barisan Nasional |
| 1996–2001 | United Sabah Party |
| 2001–2003 | Barisan Nasional |
| 2003–2004 | Independent |
| 2013–2018 | State Reform Party |
| 2018–2020 | Homeland Solidarity Party |
| 2020–2022 | Perikatan Nasional |
| 2022– | Gabungan Rakyat Sabah |
Jeffrey Gapari Kitingan (born 22 October 1947, also known asDDJK orDSPDJK since 2021) is a Malaysianpolitician who has served as theDeputy Chief Minister of Sabah I since January 2023 andState 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 theDeputy Chief Minister I of Sabah succeedingBung Mokhtar, who was dropped due to a political crisis (but retained his ministerial portfolio). At the federal level, he served as theDeputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture from March 2020 to his resignation in September 2020 andDeputy Minister of Housing and Local Government from August 1994 to May 1995. He has served asMember of Parliament (MP) forKeningau since May 2018, Member of theSabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) forTambunan since May 2018 andBingkor from 1994 to 2004 and again from May 2013 to May 2018. He has served and been founding President of theHomeland Solidarity Party (STAR), a component party of the rulingGabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and a former component party of thePerikatan Nasional (PN) coalition,[8] since July 2016.
He was born in the town ofKota Marudu but hailed from the interior district ofTambunan. He graduated with aMaster of Public Administration[9] fromHarvard University'sJohn F. Kennedy School of Government.[10] He has a PhD awarded in 1984 from theFletcher School of Law and Diplomacy ofTufts University.[11] His brother,Joseph Pairin Kitingan served as theChief Minister of Sabah from 1985 to 1994.
He is known to be a controversial politician, having been detained without trial under theInternal Security Act by theBarisan Nasional-controlled federal government under the leadership of then-Prime Minister,Mahathir Mohamad on suspicions of plotting tosecede Sabah from the federation of Malaysia, although his defenders argue that this was a politically motivated move.[10][12]
He is also known to have switched political parties a number of times. In 1990, he started his political career together with his brotherJoseph Pairin Kitingan inParti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). However, after the1994 state election, he abandoned his brother and PBS to join theAngkatan 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 1999, he quit PBS again and joinedParti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), tried to take over the party but failed again.[13] He then quit the PBRS party in 2001 and tried to joinUnited 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 theUnited Malays National Organisation (UMNO) twice: one through UMNO headquarters inKuala Lumpur, but was rejected. He then applied another membership through UMNOKeningau 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.[13][14][15]
Jeffrey remained independent of any party until he was accepted intoParti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in 2006 where he became the vice-president of the party representing the East Malaysian quota.[2] He resigned his vice-president post in 2009 but remained as a party member.[3] In December 2010, Jeffrey founded a NGO namedUnited Borneo Alliance (UBA), which aimed to strive the rights ofSabah andSarawak in accordance to20-point agreement andMalaysia Agreement.[16] He finally quit the PKR party in January 2011.[4] In 2012, Jeffrey launched the Sabah chapter of Sarawak-basedState Reform Party (STAR).[5] in 2015, he brought his UBA intoUnited Sabah Alliance (USA),[17] just before he brought his Sabah chapter out of the Sarawak-based STAR to establish a Sabah-based party namedHomeland Solidarity Party (STAR) in 2016.[6]
In the2008 general election, he challenged his brother Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin from BN-PBS at theKeningau parliamentary constituency, but lost. Instead, he won the Sabah State Legislative constituency ofBingkor.[18]
Jeffrey has been referred as political "frog" (katak inMalay) for his penchant ofparty hopping throughout his political career.[1][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.[6]
Following the2018 general election, the BN and thePakatan Harapan (PH) coalition withSabah Heritage Party (WARISAN) are tied up with 29-29 seats in the2018 Sabah state election.[21] Jeffrey with his party ofHomeland Solidarity Party (STAR) under theUnited 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 whileMusa 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-daysbankruptcy notice.[25] Following his sudden decision to work with BN, the Sabah branch of PKR has urged theMalaysian 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 MinisterMahathir 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 theShafie Apdal party an advantage with 35 seats which sufficient to establish a valid state government.[28] In addition, the SabahYang 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 the2020 Malaysian political crisis, Jeffrey supportedMahathir Mohamad to be reinstated as Prime Minister after his resignation.[35]
In the2020 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 theTambunan seat. After winning the election, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister II, serving withBung Mokhtar as Deputy Chief Minister I andJoachim 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]
In late 2021,Mongabay reported that Jeffrey was involved in acarbon credit deal that was signed in October 2021 that declared 2 million hectares as protected areas, without the consultation ofindigenous 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]
Jeffrey is currently married to Cecilia Edwin Yatam-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 hisCaucasian American wife, Susan.
In January 2021, Jeffrey tested positive forCOVID-19 and underwent treatment atQueen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.[40] Both Jeffrey and his wife recovered and discharged from hospital after about two weeks later.[41]
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | P147Bandau | Jeffrey Kitingan (AKAR) | 5,851 | 34.98% | Maximus Ongkili (PBS) | 10,716 | 64.06% | 16,927 | 4,865 | 69.72% | ||
| Jomilon Mojuntin (IND) | 162 | 0.97% | ||||||||||
| 2008 | P180Keningau | Jeffrey Kitingan (PKR) | 10,334 | 40.53% | Joseph Pairin Kitingan (PBS) | 14,598 | 57.27% | 25,956 | 4,264 | 72.96% | ||
| Peter Kodou (DAP) | 560 | 2.20% | ||||||||||
| 2013 | Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR) | 11,900 | 33.48% | Joseph Pairin Kitingan (PBS) | 15,818 | 44.50% | 36,098 | 3,918 | 82.73% | |||
| Stephen Sandor (PKR) | 7,825 | 22.02% | ||||||||||
| 2018 | Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR) | 13,286 | 33.09%2 | Jake Nointin (WARISAN) | 13,241 | 32.98%2 | 40,671 | 45 | 79.02% | |||
| Daniel Kinsik (PBS) | 12,742 | 31.74%2 | ||||||||||
| Jius Awang (PCS) | 433 | 1.08% | ||||||||||
| Maimin Rijan (IND) | 248 | 0.62% | ||||||||||
| Justin Guka (IND) | 199 | 0.50% | ||||||||||
| 2022 | Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR) | 23,155 | 42.20% | Grelydia Gillod (DAP) | 15,099 | 27.52% | 55,542 | 8,056 | 62.65% | |||
| Jake Nointin (KDM) | 9,598 | 17.49% | ||||||||||
| Rasinin Kautis (WARISAN) | 7,020 | 12.79% | ||||||||||
| Notes: Table excludes votes for candidates who finished in third place or lower. 2 Different % used for 2018 election. | ||||||||||||
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | N25Bingkor | Jeffrey Kitingan (PBS) | 6,408 | 68.57% | Injon Sedomon (PBRS) | 2,249 | 24.07% | 9,415 | 4,159 | 78.06% | ||
| Ayub Aman (IND) | 688 | 7.36% | ||||||||||
| 1999 | N28Bingkor | Jeffrey Kitingan (PBS) | 8,339 | 61.19% | Joseph Kurup (PBRS) | 4,871 | 35.75% | 13,744 | 3,468 | 72.30% | ||
| Kuilan Anggau (BERSEKUTU) | 395 | 2.90% | ||||||||||
| Peter Kodou (IND) | 22 | 0.16% | ||||||||||
| 2004 | N37Sook | Jeffrey Kitingan (IND) | 3,578 | 45.83% | Joseph Kurup (PBRS) | 3,973 | 50.90% | 7,984 | 395 | 70.53% | ||
| Yapilin Nawawi (IND) | 255 | 3.27% | ||||||||||
| 2008 | N33Bingkor | Jeffrey Kitingan (PKR) | 4,418 | 47.51% | Justin Guka (UPKO) | 4,589 | 49.34% | 9,455 | 171 | 70.88% | ||
| Uling Anggan (IND) | 164 | 1.76% | ||||||||||
| Victor Leornadus (IND) | 129 | 1.39% | ||||||||||
| 2013 | Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR) | 5,350 | 42.05% | Kennedy Jie John (UPKO) | 4,894 | 38.47% | 12,908 | 456 | 81.40% | |||
| Ahmad Shah Hussein Tambakau (PKR) | 2,368 | 18.61% | ||||||||||
| Ricky Sedomon (IND) | 111 | 0.87% | ||||||||||
| 2018 | N32Tambunan | Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR) | 6,136 | 46.78% | Joseph Pairin Kitingan (PBS) | 5,099 | 38.86% | 13,322 | 1,037 | 82.00% | ||
| Justin Alip (WARISAN) | 1,427 | 10.88% | ||||||||||
| Nestor Joannes Linggohun (PCS) | 456 | 3.48% | ||||||||||
| 2020 | N39Tambunan | Jeffrey Kitingan (STAR) | 8,691 | 75.21% | Laurentius Nayan Yambu (UPKO) | 1,899 | 16.44% | 11,555 | 6,792 | 69.98% | ||
| Silverius Bruno (PBS) | 439 | 3.80% | ||||||||||
| Damian Richard Marcus Podtung (PCS) | 326 | 2.82% | ||||||||||
| Nordin Jaini (GAGASAN) | 140 | 1.21% | ||||||||||
| Jimmy Palikat (IND) | 60 | 0.52% | ||||||||||
Malaysia
Recipient of the17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal
Commander of theOrder of Meritorious Service (PJN) –Datuk (2021)[45]
Sabah
Commander of theOrder of Kinabalu (PGDK) –Datuk (1987)[46]
Grand Commander of theOrder of Kinabalu (SPDK) –Datuk Seri Panglima (2020)[46][47][48]Jeffrey's political career is typical of what Sabahans referred to askatak (frog)
With such a colourful track record, it was no surprise that Sabah UMNO refused to take him, ...
The more prominent Kataks prior to the elections are listed below
