(From left) Nelson, Ewon and UPKO Deputy President Datuk Donald Mojuntin during the meeting today.
KOTA KINABALU (Nov 10): United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) has officially withdrawn from Pakatan Harapan (PH) to realign its political direction with the “Sabah First” struggle that has long formed the foundation of its leadership and aspirations.
UPKO secretary-general Datuk Nelson W. Angang said the decision was made during a Special Supreme Council meeting held earlier today, which also expressed full support for party president Datuk Ewon Benedick’s resignation as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives.
“Datuk Ewon’s decision reflects a matter of principle. He could not agree with the position and interpretation of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) throughout the judicial review proceedings concerning Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement filed by the Sabah Law Society,” Nelson said in a statement.
According to Nelson, UPKO’s four-year involvement in Pakatan Harapan was guided by the Sabah First agenda, which the party consistently championed during negotiations over the PH election manifesto and discussions within the Unity Government led by the PH chairman.
However, he said differences in interpretation and position had increasingly emerged between UPKO and the national PH component parties, particularly concerning the implementation of Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement, the demand for one-third of parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, and the failure to implement administrative autonomy for PH Sabah.
“Despite UPKO being chosen to chair PH Sabah through a legitimate state-level meeting, the decision was never formalised by the PH Presidential Council due to objections from PKR Sabah. Even decisions made through a proper electoral process were met with open criticism,” he said.
He added that although Ewon was later appointed only as a “coordinator”, decisions relating to election preparations within PH were ultimately made by PKR without genuine autonomy for the Sabah chapter.
Following an internal reassessment, UPKO concluded that only Sabah-based parties truly understood the heartbeat, aspirations, and future vision of the state as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution.
Ewon and fellow UPKO Supreme council members after the meeting today.
“UPKO firmly maintains that the 40 per cent revenue entitlement is a right separate from the Federal Government’s obligations under the Federal List,” Nelson said.
He stressed that UPKO is open to working with other local Sabah parties that share the Sabah First agenda, to more effectively champion the real implementation of MA63 and Sabah’s constitutional rights.
“While maintaining good relations between the Federal and State Governments is important, it must be grounded in the spirit, intent, and substance of MA63,” he said.
“After considering UPKO’s four-year participation in PH and the growing calls from Sabahans to unite local parties ahead of the coming state election, the Supreme Council resolved to withdraw from the coalition with immediate effect.
“This decision will be formally conveyed to the Pakatan Harapan Chairman and its component parties,” Nelson said.
He added that UPKO’s two Members of Parliament, Datuk Ewon Benedick (Penampang) and Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau (Tuaran), will continue to heed the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to preserve the stability of the Federal Government until the end of its current term.
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