PENAMPANG: United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president Datuk Ewon Benedick welcomes the cooperation between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) in the upcoming Sabah State Election (PRN).
However, he emphasised that there are still several issues that need to be addressed regarding this cooperation.
Specifically, he highlighted the need to resolve matters related to political appointment sharing, including at the grassroots level and achieving a balance in public administration.
Ewon expressed his appreciation for the statement made by his colleague, Datuk Armizan, regarding the GRS-Pakatan Harapan cooperation.
He acknowledged that this cooperation is being implemented at the state government level.
However, he stressed that there are still significant issues that need to be addressed in order to ensure the success of this collaboration.
These issues primarily revolve around political appointment sharing and the resolutions put forth by the Pakatan Harapan components, which seek support from the state government.
Ewon emphasised the importance of cooperation in resolving these matters.
Regarding the upcoming Sabah State Election (PRN), Ewon called for a fresh and new discussion regarding the allocation of election seats.
This indicates his willingness to engage in a comprehensive dialogue to ensure a fair distribution of seats, he added.
Ewon told reporters this after attending the Chinese New Year celebration organised by PCCI here today.
The Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives also expressed his disagreement with the notion that seats won by a representative from the original party in the previous election should automatically belong to the new party of that representative.
He emphasised the need for a fresh and new study and discussion on the distribution of seats, considering the significant differences between the 2020 election and the current political landscape.
UPKO had different coalition partners at that time, as did GRS, which had different coalition partners. Therefore, the scenario has changed significantly; hence, we need new discussions, especially regarding the distribution of seats in the upcoming state election,” he said.
Ewon emphasised that, as long as it is fulfilled, he supports and welcomes the cooperation offered by GRS.
When asked if he is confident in this cooperation, Ewon said: “This cooperation is ongoing but needs to be strengthened further, meaning my confidence to support the Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor) began when I defended him during the political crisis earlier this year.”
“That is my commitment and willingness to support him, but this must be translated into real cooperation.
“Because I am straightforward, for us in Pakatan Harapan Sabah, we have not seen this cooperation translated at the district and grassroots levels.
“And it is the grassroots that will evaluate the sincerity of the cooperation that started last year.
“I leave this matter to the leadership of the Chief Minister and the state government, including the two Pakatan Harapan representatives in the cabinet, on how to translate this at the grassroots level so that the cooperation is genuine, not only at the top level but must also be translated at the grassroots level,” he said.h
