The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) has officially ended its alliance with Pakatan Harapan (PH), just before the 17th Sabah General Election.
This leaves Sabah PH with three component parties: PKR, DAP, and Amanah.
Upko secretary-general Nelson Angang said the party seeks a federal-Sabah relationship rooted in the spirit, goals, and execution of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Differences have grown between Upko and other national PH parties on key matters, he added.
Key Disputes Prompt Exit
Issues include Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement, the call for one-third parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, and the lack of administrative autonomy for Sabah PH.
“After reviewing its four-year participation in PH and listening to the people’s call for greater unity among Sabah’s local parties to begin through this election, the Special Supreme Council Meeting has decided that Upko will immediately withdraw from PH,” Nelson said in a statement after the meeting here today.
The decision will be formally sent to the PH chairman and its components.
Leadership and Autonomy Concerns
Although Upko president Ewon Benedick was named Sabah PH chairman on December 1 last year, federal leaders treated him only as a “coordinator.”
Nelson claimed PKR made major election decisions without true autonomy for Sabah PH, despite prior promises.
“Upko has reevaluated its political direction and concluded that only local Sabah-based parties truly understand the heartbeat, soul, vision, and future aspirations of Sabah, in line with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Sabah’s constitutional rights, particularly the 40% revenue entitlement,” he said.
Upko is open to working with other Sabah parties sharing the “Sabah First” agenda for better MA63 implementation.
Timing Follows Minister’s Resignation
The move follows Ewon’s resignation yesterday as entrepreneur and cooperatives development minister.
He cited frustration with the federal stance on the Kota Kinabalu High Court’s October 17 ruling on Sabah’s 40% revenue claim from 1974 to 2021.
Ewon said the Attorney-General’s Chambers review of the judgment overlooked Malaysia’s founding history.
Upko previously left Barisan Nasional and joined Warisan in the 2018 general election to form the Sabah government. It entered Sabah PH two years later.
PH Seat Allocations Underway
PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim announced on Monday that the coalition will contest 23 seats in the Sabah election.
PKR revealed 10 candidates, DAP will field eight, and Amanah named one for Sulabayan. The remaining four seats are yet to be assigned.
Upko plans to announce its candidates on Thursday.
As polling nears, local unity takes centre stage in Sabah’s push for rightful recognition within the federation.
