Let us be united, Ewon tells Sabah PH allies

Upko president calls for chance to be assessed for two years as new state PH chairman

Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairman and Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick has urged the coalition to ‘move on’ and prepare for the upcoming state election – Bernama pic, December 28, 2024

PENAMPANG – Datuk Ewon Benedick has stressed the need for unity as the coalition gets ready for the upcoming state election encouraging members to “move on.” 

The Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman and Upko president said discussions among leaders from various component parties within Sabah PH have addressed his recent appointment as the new state chairman. 

“It is time for us to move on. What matters now is fulfilling the trust placed in us by PH members.” 

“Let my performance be assessed after two years. The focus should be on consensus and leadership within the Sabah PH coalition,” he added humbly. 

Ewon was speaking to reporters when met at the Christmas Open House hosted by the Penampang MP at Buhavan Square, Donggongon. 

Earlier, a leader from Sabah PKR asserted that the chairmanship of PH in the state rightfully belongs to their party, referencing a previously agreed-upon formula among the coalition’s members. 

The PKR representative, who requested anonymity, noted that the position should not have been contested, highlighting that the recent election was the first since the formation of Sabah PH in 2017. 

Traditionally, the components of Sabah PH, including PKR, DAP, Upko, and Amanah, have designated a PKR leader to head the coalition’s state chapter, according to the source. 

Ewon, who is federal entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister was elected as the new PH Sabah chairman at the party’s general meeting earlier this month. 

He succeeds Datuk Seri Panglima Christina Liew who led PH Sabah since 2017 and will lead PH Sabah for the 2024-2026 term. – December 28, 2024