By NT
KOTA KINABALU: Following “stirring” reaction to the recent statement made by UPKO President Datuk Ewon Benedick regarding the distribution of government appointments among allies in the state government, UPKO has sent a strong message to ponder.
The decision by the Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) elected representatives to choose stability and back the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government during the political crisis that almost brought down the state government earlier this year, according to UPKO Secretary General Nelson W. Angang, has aided GRS in maintaining its position of power.
He said the timely move had resulted in ensuring that all those appointed under the GRS government to remain in their respective positions.
“Otherwise, with the fall of the GRS state government, most likely all the political appointments would be terminated,” he said in a statement, here today.
Nelson made this comment in response to UPKO President Datuk Ewon Benedick’s recent remarks about the allocation of state government appointments amongst allies.
GRS Secretary-General Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun was later quoted as responding to Ewon’s statement by stating that the GRS-Pakatan Harapan (PH) State Government, which has only been in office for nine months, needs time to make changes, such as redistributing posts in accordance with the new political alignment.
Masidi said it must be understood that the Government cannot arbitrarily terminate current positions.
Nelson said: “Being in the opposition for more than two years we fully understand the hardship of leaders losing their source of income as we felt the struggles of our grassrooots leaders who had stood by us even at the toughest of time being in the opposition”.
“Some, if not most of them were terminated of their employments after the 2020 state elections when PH became the opposition.
“There were hard questions coming from our supporters as to why we had supported GRS rather than forming a new state government with BN and Warisan then as surely it would be expected that Sabah PH be accommodated with numerous political appointments,” he added.
However, he said that was not what the leaders of Sabah PH was considering at that time, but rather “we want to ensure political stability in the state and to put a stop to the culture of bringing down the government before the completion of a full term”.
“UPKO and our other partners in Sabah PH namely PKR, DAP and Amanah appreciates the continous effort by the state government to find ways to accomodate Sabah PH to be part and to contribute to the administration of the state in various levels.
“We also welcome the statement made by the Chief Minister for a continue Political co-operation between GRS and Sabah PH for the upcoming state election. In fact, any parties or political coalition declaring their interest and support of wanting to work with Sabah PH is always a welcome news as it shows that Sabah PH is seen as an effective political coalition and a formidable ally,” he said.
Nelson said the party had also read statements coming from some PGRS leaders echoing the call made by the CM and even translated the intention of working together by inviting PH leaders to the launching of their respective PGRS divisions recently.
“However, I was informed that there are several PGRS divisions who perhaps had missed the memo or it was an oversight on their part when no invitation was extended to PH leaders in several divisions.
“This has caused some confusion to PH members as to the commitment and sincerity of wanting to continue this political relationship between GRS and PH in the upcoming state election.
“It was honest of YB Datuk Ewon Benedick when he expressed his view that such appreciation of Sabah PH support and the intention of a continue political cooperation must be translated and felt through the sincere alliance between GRS and Sabah PH especially at the grassroots level.
“We are now at a stage where coalition politics and the formation of a coalition government would become the norm. With it we must be prepared to accommodate and to experience new approach to ensure the cooperation and respect between coalition partners would be the catalyst to the success of this government and any future government,” he said.
