KOTA KINABALU: The United Kinabalu Progressive Organisation (UPKO) has vowed to go all out to win more seats in the upcoming Sabah state election.
Towards that end, UPKO president Datuk Ewon Benedick said the party should contest for more seats to achieve the desired result.
However, according to him, the number of seats and subsequently the victory of the party’s candidates depend much on the effectiveness of the leadership and the approach of the machinery in the areas earmarked to be contested.
“We have to defend the victory in the Kadamaian state assembly, and we have to win in other areas. This means that the UPKO needs and should compete for more seats in the next state election.
“I want to give an indicator to everyone who aspires to be a candidate and wants to win the support of the people in the state election. Make Kadamaian an inspiration and motivation.
“Kadamaian became UPKO’s stronghold because of the approach and creativity of the leadership there, despite waiting up to 13 years to cultivate, nourish, and strengthen the people’s support before contesting in the last state elections,” he said.
Ewon said this in his policy speech at the UPKO National Convention at the Menggatal Community Hall here today.
Ewon stressed that the decision to contest any seat should not be based on wanting to contest alone but instead must have a strong basis.
“I don’t want to make a decision just based on the desire to contest without being supported by strong backing because we want to win, not lose.
“I will be guided by the creativity of the divisions. Convince me so that we can together convince the people,” he said.
