Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has minimised the impact of Ewon Benedick’s resignation as a federal minister, calling it a normal shift in politics.
The home minister said Ewon’s departure and Upko’s exit from PH will not hinder the coalition’s Sabah election campaign.
“No, it doesn’t affect the campaign at all. That’s the nature of politics – the dynamics are always shifting.
“Some people choose to align with us while others don’t. That’s just what we call ‘political dynamics’,” he said at a press conference held at the Langkawi police headquarters today.
Upko secretary-general Nelson Angang announced the party’s withdrawal from PH the day after Ewon stepped down as entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister.
Nelson explained that the decision considered Upko’s experience in PH and the growing sentiment among Sabahans for local parties to unite.
Ewon, the Upko president and Penampang MP, resigned citing principles tied to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Sabah’s constitutional rights.
He disagreed with the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ stance on Sabah’s 40% share of federal revenue from the state.
Nelson added that Upko’s two MPs – Ewon and honorary president Wilfred Madius Tangau – will continue supporting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.
