Datuk Ewon Benedick
PENAMPANG (Oct 19): United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president Datuk Ewon Benedick has declared his readiness to resign from the Federal Cabinet if the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) proceeds with an appeal against the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruling on Oct 17, which recognised Sabah’s constitutional right to the 40 per cent revenue entitlement as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
Ewon, who is also the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, made the statement during his winding-up speech at the UPKO Penampang Division Convention here today.
Earlier, the convention passed a resolution calling on Ewon to step down from the Federal Cabinet should the AGC go ahead with an appeal against the court’s decision.
“UPKO expresses its utmost respect and appreciation to the Sabah Law Society (SLS) for successfully securing a judgment that recognises the 40 percent entitlement as Sabah’s constitutional right.
“UPKO also stresses that both the Federal and Sabah Governments must finalise an agreement within 180 days on the implementation of this right, as directed by the court,” he said.
Ewon emphasised that he takes full responsibility for the resolution passed during the party’s convention.
He said that the Cabinet meeting next week (Friday) would be the platform for him to convey UPKO’s official position that the Federal Government should instruct the AGC not to file an appeal against the High Court’s ruling.
According to Ewon, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and Cabinet members are already aware of his recommendation, made through internal Cabinet communication channels, that the AGC should not pursue an appeal, since the High Court decision came after the last Cabinet meeting two days ago.
“Next week, I will raise this matter at the meeting so that the party’s resolution and position are formally recorded in the Cabinet proceedings,” he said.
He reiterated that if an appeal is filed within the next 30 days, he would take responsibility for the party’s resolution by stepping down from the Federal Cabinet.
“This is not about politics; it is about Sabah’s rights and principles. I cannot support any decision or action that contradicts the High Court’s ruling.
“The Party Constitution, under Clause 5, clearly states our commitment to uphold the foundations and spirit of the formation of Malaysia in accordance with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and to respect the Federal Constitution as the supreme law of the nation,” he said.
Ewon further stressed that the Kota Kinabalu High Court has recognised the 40 percent entitlement as a constitutional right of Sabah, and if any decision contradicts that judgment, he cannot continue to lend his support.
“I am prepared to resign from the Federal Cabinet in order to honour and defend Sabah’s constitutional rights and the spirit of Malaysia’s formation,” he asserted.
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