Upko announces immediate exit from PH
The decision was made during a Special Supreme Council Meeting on Monday, where leaders discussed the party’s long-term struggle and unanimously supported the move.
KOTA KINABALU - The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) announces that it is exiting Pakatan Harapan (PH) with immediate effect as the party strengthens its Sabah First direction.
The decision was made during a Special Supreme Council Meeting on Monday, where leaders discussed the party’s long-term struggle and unanimously supported the move.
According to Secretary-General Datuk Nelson W Angang, the meeting also backed Upko President Datuk Ewon Benedick’s decision to resign as the Development and Cooperatives Minister due to disagreements over the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ (AGC) stance in the judicial review on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
“The meeting was held to discuss the Sabah First agenda which serves as the foundation of Upko's struggle and leadership direction.
“This special meeting fully supports the decision of Upko President Datuk Ewon Benedick who resigned as the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister because he could not agree with the position and views of the Attorney-General’s Chambers throughout the Judicial Review proceedings related to Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement filed by the Sabah Law Society,” he said.
Nelson said that throughout Upko's four years within PH, the party consistently placed the Sabah First agenda at the centre of manifesto negotiations and within the Unity Government’s administrative framework.
However, disputes had arisen over the implementation of Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement, the request for one-third parliamentary representation for Sabah and Sarawak, and the failure to realise PH Sabah’s administrative autonomy.
He added that although Upko had been elected to chair PH Sabah, the PH Presidential Council did not resolve the matter due to objections from Sabah PKR.
He said Upko was openly criticised even though the decision had been made through an election carried out by administrators from the PH headquarters.
Nelson also said that delays, internal objections and limited autonomy demonstrated that national parties did not fully understand Sabah’s needs.
As a result, Upko re-evaluated its direction and concluded that Sabah’s future should be driven by local parties that fully grasp the state’s aspirations and rights.
“Only Sabah local parties truly understand the heartbeat, soul, vision and future aspirations of Sabah based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Sabah’s rights under the Federal Constitution, particularly the 40 per cent entitlement,” he said.
He further emphasised that the 40 per cent entitlement must be recognised as a separate right and should not be equated with Federal obligations under the Federal List.
Nelson said Upko was prepared to collaborate with other Sabah-based parties that share the same Sabah First struggle to ensure stronger and more effective advocacy of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
He added that while relations with the Federal Government should remain cordial, they must be rooted in the true spirit and implementation of MA63.
“After considering our participation in PH for four years and taking into account the call from the people of Sabah for the unification of local parties to begin through this election, the Upko Special Supreme Council Meeting decided to withdraw from PH with immediate effect,” he said.
Nelson said the decision would be officially conveyed to the PH Chairman and all component parties.
He added that Upko Members of Parliament (MPs) Ewon and Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau would continue to uphold the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree to maintain the stability of the Federal Government until the end of the term.
Ewon had earlier announced his resignation as the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister on Saturday.
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