STAR president Jeffrey Kitingan is betting on his personal brand and belief in his party’s grassroots appeal, said Bilcher Bala of Universiti Malaysia Sabah. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA : Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku’s (STAR) insistence on a “local party only” front, which led to its departure from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), could backfire in the upcoming state election, says an analyst. “It is likely to be self-defeating, especially in the final moments leading up to the 17th state election,” Lee told FMT. Bilcher Bala, also of UMS, said it was notoriously difficult for parties to go solo in Sabah, as its political environment was coalition-driven. STAR and the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) left the ruling state coalition after a nearly two-hour-long GRS presidential council meeting on Wednesday night.