[UPDATED] Ewon Benedick resigns from Cabinet

KOTA KINABALU: Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick has announced his resignation from the federal Cabinet, saying he must uphold Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president said he will formally submit his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I wish to express my gratitude to the prime minister for the opportunity to serve in the federal Cabinet, which allowed me to advocate for Sabah’s rights and principles,” he said in a statement.

Under Upko’s party constitution, Ewon added that one of the objectives of the party’s formation is to champion and uphold the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) and the rights of Sabah under the Federal Constitution.

The Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairman said that he cannot support any decision that contradicts the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s ruling on Oct 17 related to state constitutional rights.

The Kota Kinabalu High Court, in its Oct 17 ruling, directed the federal government to conduct a review with Sabah to determine the state’s 40 per cent entitlement for each financial year from 1974 to 2021.

The court had also ordered that the review must commence within 90 days and be completed within 180 days.

Based on the written judgment by Kota Kinabalu High Court Judge Celestina Stuel Galid regarding the Judicial Review filed by the Sabah Law Society, Ewon said the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had ignored the historical foundation of Malaysia’s formation.

He added that while the A-GC serves as the legal adviser to the prime minister and the federal government, the written judgment indicated that there was no new advice being offered.

“I cannot agree with the A-GC’s stance and views.

“It would be highly inappropriate for me to continue serving in the federal while the A-GC maintains a stance that I believe will remain unchanged.”

Ewon said he will convene a Special Meeting of the Upko Supreme Council next Monday to discuss the Sabah First agenda, which forms the foundation of the party’s direction.

Earlier, Madani government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil had said that the said judgment should be thoroughly studied to ensure a full understanding of the mechanisms involved and to avoid any complications in the future.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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