KOTA KINABALU, Nov 10 — Datuk Ewon Benedick said he has officially submitted his resignation as minister of entrepreneur development and cooperatives to the prime minister earlier today.
In a statement on his Facebook page, the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president said he will also begin using his remaining leave from today following his decision to step down.
“This afternoon, I will chair a special meeting of the Upko Supreme Council to discuss the party’s ‘Sabah First’ agenda — a principle that has long guided Upko’s mission and remains enshrined in the party’s constitution,” he said.
Ewon’s resignation followed his disagreement with the federal government’s position on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
He, however, remains as Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman for the time being despite stepping down from the federal Cabinet, according to Sabah Keadilan Leadership Council chairman Datuk Mustapha Sakmud yesterday.
Upko is one of four components in PH.
Mustapha said the coalition continues to recognise and respect Ewon’s leadership at the state level.
Upko’s election pact with PH remains unclear as only 18 seats have been announced out of 23 expected to be contested.
Last night, PKR announced 10 seats while DAP had on Saturday announced seven. Parti Amanah has so far announced one seat, while Upko — the remaining component — is due to announce its candidates and seats by November 14.
Ewon, who is the incumbent Kadamaian assemblyman and Penampang MP, announced his resignation from the Cabinet yesterday, citing disappointment over the federal government’s handling of Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement issue.
He said the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s ruling on October 17 confirmed that the federal government was legally bound to fulfil Sabah’s constitutional right to receive 40 per cent of the net federal revenue collected from the state between 1974 and 2021.
However, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) later said it would study the judgment in detail and consider all legal options before taking further action, instead of immediately enforcing the payment.
Ewon said this stance contradicted Upko’s long-held position that Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement should be respected without delay, and that it would therefore be improper for him to remain in the Cabinet while holding a different view from the federal government.
