KOTA KINABALU: UPKO president Datuk Ewon Benedick has emphasised the necessity for the people of Sabah to carefully evaluate ‘the significance of unity’ as they approach the upcoming state election (PRN) this year.
He indicated that UPKO intends to partner with like-minded parties, both local and national, to achieve shared goals.
During future negotiations with other coalitions, UPKO will articulate its perspectives and advocate for unity, he said.
He reminded that Sabah’s decision to join the Federation of Malaysia in 1963 should inspire collective efforts to enhance and develop the nation.
Ewon also highlighted the importance of Sabah’s leadership maintaining its role within the Federal Government, in line with the aspirations of MA63.
His remarks were made during UPKO’s 31st anniversary celebration at SICC on Friday night.
He stressed that to foster national development, the people must first cultivate a sense of belonging towards their own state government.
“Matters of concern related to the sense of belonging of the diverse people of Sabah, such as the composition in state public service positions, appointments in agencies and statutory bodies, scholarship grants, the quality of the Sabah Government’s delivery machinery, inter-religious relations, and state legislation, must be strengthened and refined first. All of this requires the unity and political cohesion of all parties in Sabah,” he said.
Ewon said a ‘confrontational approach’ will not benefit Sabah and will not help Sabah’s future.
“The important thing is how the great political unity of Sabah can become an asset for negotiating major issues needed by the people of Sabah, whether included in MA63 or those that need to be incorporated into the Malaysian Development Plan,” he said.
Ewon said this year marks the dissolution of the Sabah State Assembly for this term.
“The UPKO party, as a component of PH Sabah, will certainly participate in this state election with the vision of winning additional seats besides defending the seat in Kadamaian.
“While internal negotiations within PH Sabah and informal discussions with other coalitions continue, UPKO must be prepared to become a player for the people of Sabah,” he said.
He said the party decisions must be based on the purpose and objectives of the party’s establishment, guided by wisdom and strategic rationality with a focus on the future of Sabah and its people.
“We have been part of the Federation of Malaysia for 62 years. This period is long enough to reflect on the progress of infrastructure, economic progress, governance progress, cooperation progress, and the improvement in the quality of our attitudes in Sabah.
“This PRN is not a competition about who can shout the loudest, not a competition of sensational emotions, and not a competition of who has the most weaknesses.
“This PRN should serve as a measure of the unity of the people of Sabah and the unity of the leaders of the political parties in Sabah,” he added.
