Ewon Benedick today described the move to pull Upko out of Pakatan Harapan as the “best decision” he has made as party president.
The former federal minister also said Upko’s decision to exit PH was not made lightly and that he had wrestled with the idea both as a father and leader, Borneo Post reported.
Ewon said he came to a decision after “months of reflection, consultation, and soul searching”.
“It was the best decision I have made as Upko president. Not only for the party, but for myself as a leader who refuses to betray the hopes of our people,” he was quoted as saying.
He also said he knew that he made a decision he could be proud of as a father and husband, adding that he wanted his children to see that their father chose integrity over convenience.
Ewon said leaving PH allowed Upko to rediscover its own “voice” and chart its own course.
“When we returned to our own path, I felt a weight lift (off my shoulders). I knew we were returning to the essence of Upko, which is to serve Sabah without fear and without compromise,” he said.
Upko had announced on Monday its decision to leave PH with immediate effect, more than four years after joining the coalition.
Its secretary-general, Nelson Angang, said the decision was made after taking into account its time in PH and the sentiment among Sabahans for local parties to join forces.
Upko was a part of Barisan Nasional from 1994 until 2018. It left the coalition after the 14th general election in 2018 to form the Sabah government with Warisan and PH.
It then formally joined PH in August 2021 and contested under the coalition’s banner in Sabah during the 15th general election the following year.
Upko’s decision to quit PH came a day after Ewon resigned as entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister, citing Upko’s principle on upholding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Sabah’s constitutional rights.
