KOTA KINABALU, Nov 10 — Datuk Ewon Benedick remains the Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman despite stepping down from his position as Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister in the federal Cabinet.
Sabah Keadilan Leadership Council chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud confirmed this yesterday when speaking to reporters after a PH leadership meeting at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).
Mustapha said the coalition continues to recognise and respect Ewon’s leadership at the state level.
“As Sabah PH chairman, we still respect him because he only resigned from his Cabinet post,” Mustapha said.
Ewon, who is also the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president and Penampang Member of Parliament, announced his resignation from the Cabinet on Friday night, citing disappointment over the federal government’s handling of Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement issue.
Mustapha noted that the coalition respects Ewon’s stand and views it as part of his commitment to champion Sabah’s rights.
Upko, a component party of PH, recently decided to use its own logo in the upcoming 17th Sabah state election, a move seen as part of its effort to strengthen its grassroots identity while remaining within the coalition’s framework. — The Borneo Post
