Ewon (seventh from left) flanked by UPKO deputy president Datuk Donald Mojuntin (sixth from left), ex-UPKO president Datuk Madius Tangau and the party’s honorary secretary, Senator Datuk Nelson W. Angang.
KOTA KINABALU (May 2): United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) will undoubtedly take part in the state election (PRN) with the vision of winning additional seats, as well as defending its seat in Kadamaian, said its president, Datuk Ewon Benedick.
“While internal discussions within Sabah PH and informal talks with other coalitions continue, UPKO must remain prepared to be a committed team player for the people of Sabah. Our decisions must be guided by the founding objectives of the party, underpinned by wisdom and strategic rationality, with a focus on the future of Sabah and its people,” he said during the UPKO 31st anniversary dinner held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Friday.
He said the upcoming Sabah election is not a contest to see who can shout the loudest, nor is it a contest of sensational emotions or one of who has the most weaknesses.
“This PRN should serve as a measure of the unity of the people of Sabah, and the solidarity among the leaders of the political parties in the state,” he reminded.
“In the face of global trade relations and shifting geopolitics, the people of Sabah must wisely assess the value of unity. That is why UPKO, true to the aims of our party’s founding, must work together with parties that share a common vision and aspirations – not only with Sabah-based parties, but also with national-level parties,” he said.
He said that in the upcoming negotiations, UPKO will express its views and positions and serve as an advocate for unity.
“In 1963, Sabah chose to join the Federation of Malaysia, so let us now work to improve and build this nation together. Sabah’s leadership representatives must continue to be part of the Federal Government, in line with the aspirations of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),” he said.
He said that to improve and build the nation, we must first strengthen the sense of belonging among Sabahans towards their own State Government.
“Concerns related to this sense of belonging among Sabah’s diverse communities – such as the composition of the state civil service, appointments in agencies and statutory bodies, the awarding of scholarships, the effectiveness of the state’s service delivery machinery, interfaith relations and state legislation – must be empowered and improved first,” he said.
All this requires political unity and solidarity among all parties in Sabah, he added.
“A confrontational approach will not benefit Sabah, nor will it help secure Sabah’s future. What matters is how this broader political unity in Sabah can be turned into an asset when negotiating for the key matters that the people of Sabah need – whether they are outlined in MA63 or ought to be included in the Malaysian Development Plan,” he said.
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