KOTA KINABALU, Nov 8 — Incoming United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Ewon Benedick is banking on Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) stability and promise that the Sabah-based party will eventually play a bigger role in the state in its quest to win over voters this general election (GE15).
Officially Upko vice-president until its next congress, Ewon said that the party would be given a bigger role to play in the national coalition post-GE15, which would allow it to dictate policy direction better.
“Yes, PH is still led by a national party, but I believe after this election, we are going to change this structure, and be a national coalition led by local party — Upko,” he said.
Ewon said that he was aware of sentiments on the ground appearing to favour a local party that would not be subjected to “Malaya” leaders and prioritise Sabah’s interests without fear of backlash.
“We know the reservations about us working with a national coalition. But we will get there. PH is aware of the sentiments on the ground. We have never had a national coalition led by a local party before.
“Upko, as part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, was led by Umno, and there’s now a local coalition (GRS) led by Bersatu, a national party,” he said.
Ewon said that in Sabah, the PH coalition works well together, and that Upko can lead the coalition here as part of the team.
He gave the example of the legal suit at the Kota Kinabalu High Court seeking a declaration that the state’s 40 per cent revenue share formula under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 is still applicable.
They are also seeking declarations that a review of Putrajaya’s annual grant to Sabah should have been carried out in 1974, and that the 2022 review — jointly announced by the federal and Sabah state governments in April — was unconstitutional.
The suit was initiated by 11 PH representatives, who engaged Upko lawyer Nelson Anggang.
“Our colleagues went to court together, so it is not about us as component parties. It is about us as a team,” he said.
Ewon also argued that PH has a strong direction compared to rivals BN and Warisan.
“We have a party competing on its own with no prime minister candidate who will trade our votes to the winning coalition. So I challenge them to name their prime minister candidate. It is a cop-out to say you will negotiate after the election,” he said in reference to Warisan.
He also said that the party’s peninsula candidates were not about the Sabah fight whereas PH has outlined very clearly its promises to Sabah in its manifesto.
For GE15, Ewon is in the hot seat of Penampang, where he is going up against Warisan number two Datuk Darell Leiking, GRS’ Kenny Chua and independent Richard Jimmy.
The battle is seen as largely between Ewon and two-term MP Leiking.
Leiking, a former minister of international trade and industry under the PH government, won Penampang with a huge majority in 2018, and proved his popularity by winning the Moyog state seat in the snap state polls of 2020.
Chua said that Leiking has lost his connection with the ground over the years, leaving voters unsatisfied.
“Understandably, as an Opposition MP, there’s not much he can do during his first term.
“But then, he had more than two years to fulfil his promises while being a full federal minister.
“Why didn’t he do more when he could? How about helping with the flood, or improving the Tamu ground and the health clinic? Both of us, PH and Warisan, were on the same side and many things could have been done better. It’s a lost opportunity and a loss for the people,” said Chua yesterday.
Leiking, however, has contended that his two opponents are from big coalitions while he belongs to a small local party.
Ewon has likened the competition between the three as a friendly fight amongst old friends, vowing to abstain from personal attacks and stick to political arguments.
However, his cordial stance belies the weight of pressure to win as he is arguably the party’s best hope of winning a seat in Parliament this GE15.
Upko is contesting five seats this election.
President Datuk Madius Tangau is defending his Tuaran seat against Parti Bersatu Sabah information chief Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Meanwhile, Peter J. Naintin is contesting the Libaran seat, Rowindy Odong is contesting the Kimanis seat and Felix J. Saang is contesting the Beluran seat.
Ewon believes that he stands a good chance of winning Penampang.
As Kadamaian assemblyman, he has earned a reputation for being a down-to-earth, hardworking leader and the buzz has been building about his recent appearances in Penampang.
Kadamaian is in the district of Kota Belud, where Ewon was raised singlehandedly by his mother from the age of six, following the death of his father.
He recently visited his father’s grave in Penampang, at the Dungkahang Christian Cemetery, and said he would like to pay tribute to him, as well as to the party, as its history is rooted in Penampang.
“I was born and raised here, and it is now time for me to pay respects to him too. I have been doing my homework and I believe I have a fighting chance here.
“I want to win this for PH. Penampang has sentimental value for Upko. We were formed here. Although people know me as the Kadamaian assemblyman, if I can serve my mother’s hometown, there is no reason I can’t give the same to my father’s hometown too,” he said.
