KOTA KINABALU: Former State Rural Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick is expected to make a ‘big announcement’ during UPKO’s Kota Belud division annual meeting and the Kadamaian State constituency Raya Kaamatan Open House at the Kadamaian Square on May 16, reliable sources said today.
They have speculated the UPKO vice president may use the annual meeting and celebration to give a glimpse of his political stand with regard to the upcoming party election.
In what is seen as precursor, the UPKO Kadamaian division, including the youth and Women wings have recently expressed full support for Ewon leadership and hoped the Kadamaian assemblyman to be given the chance to helm the party in future.
However, it is still unclear whether Ewon will accept the wishes of the UPKO Kota Belud divisional leaders for a possible showdown against incumbent president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
In Sept 2020 state elections, Ewon retained his seat with a 3,459 majority. He won 6,823 votes, beating PBS Demis Rumanti (3,364) and Barisan Nasional’s Duanis Mogirong@Djuanis (2,050). Three other candidates lost their deposit.
Ewon was the state rural development minister during Warisan’s government from 2018 to 2020.
Madius, who is Tuaran MP, was once the federal science, technology and innovation minister (2015-2018), and became the Sabah deputy chief minister and state trade and industry minister when Warisan was the state government.Â
He served as the acting UPKO president in 2014 until he won the presidential post uncontested in September 2018.Â
UPKO officially joined the Pakatan Harapan coalition as a component party in August last year, making it the only Sabah party in the pact.
