Datuk Ewon Benedict speaking at the UPKO Sipitang and Labuan convention.
SIPITANG: The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) intends to contest in several seats besides the stronghold of Kadamaian state constituency in the upcoming state election (PRN).
UPKO President Datuk Ewon Benedick said that he has conveyed this intention to the Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor and the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“UPKO must contest not only in our stronghold of Kadamaian but also in several other seats.
“This is important so that UPKO, as a party that wants to contribute better to the governance of the country, should be given a significant role at the federal and state government levels, starting with more seats in the upcoming election,” he said.
Ewon told reporters this after officiating the Sipitang and Labuan UPKO Convention at the Lundayeh Cultural Centre here today.
Ewon, who is also the Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives, said that in the upcoming PRN, there will no longer be the same coalition as in 2020.
According to him, the situation is different now, “so discussions on the allocation of seats for political cooperation during the election should be a fresh discussion.”.
“For me and for UPKO, the discussion should be something new and fresh when we talk about cooperation in the upcoming Sabah state election and the determination of seats contested by the cooperating parties in the election,” he said.
Ewon said that the party has identified several seats that they want to contest, and UPKO is confident in contributing to victory in those areas, especially in the majority KDM voter areas and mixed seats.
Currently, UPKO holds two federal seats, Penampang held by Ewon and Tuaran by Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
The current ruling coalition comprises parties under GRS and Sabah PH, with its term set to end in October 2025. – Talantang
