KOTA KINABALU, Nov 8 — Rumours that United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Ewon Benedick has stepped down from the federal Cabinet are unfounded, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
He said the entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister was present during the Cabinet meeting yesterday, and there was no indication of anything out of the ordinary.
“We had the Cabinet meeting as usual. There was no talk it was his last meeting, so as far as I’m concerned, he is part of the federal Cabinet and Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH). So I do not know, this is something new to me,” said Loke.
Rumours of Ewon leaving PH and the Cabinet have intensified following his pledge to step down if the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) challenges the High Court ruling on October 17 affirming Sabah’s constitutional right to claim 40 per cent of federal revenue collected from the state.
Ewon said his stance reflected his commitment to defend Sabah’s rights under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
His party has also said it will contest under the Upko logo instead of the PH banner in the upcoming state election on November 29.
