KOTA KINABALU: Upko, the only local party in Sabah Pakatan Harapan, is standing firm in its decision that its incoming president Datuk Ewon Benedick will contest the Penampang seat.
Datuk Ewon Benedick
Its deputy president Datuk Donald Mojuntin said the party leadership believed in its decision to name Ewon, 39, as Pakatan’s candidate for the hot semi-urban seat.
Donald said Ewon was a young and dynamic leader, and the party believed he could fight for Sabah’s rights as well as wrest back Penampang, a seat that held special meaning for Upko.
Penampang was the birthplace of Donald’s late father, Datuk Peter Mojuntin, who is regarded as Upko’s spiritual leader.
“He (the late Mojuntin) was someone whom we respected and continues to be an inspiration to Upko members to this day.
“Plus, the Upko era started in Penampang in 1994, and our first president, Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, was also from there.
“The party believes the current political era needs a fresh, capable and more dynamic leader like Ewon,” said Donald, a former senator and ex-state assistant minister.
Ewon, who is Kadamaian assemblyman, had previously confirmed his candidacy for the seat.
Penampang was held by former ally Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking, who achieved a giant-killing feat when he knocked out Dompok, who was a federal minister and then Upko president, on the PKR ticket in the 2013 general election.
Another name tipped to enter the race for the Kadazandusun-majority Penampang seat is Sabah STAR vice-president Kenny Chua.
Donald said Ewon was no stranger to Penampang as his late father, Benedick Yong, hailed from Kampung Penampang Proper.
He added that Ewon also grew up in the district and went to school at SM St Michael Penampang.
He said Penampang Upko division members were proud that their future party president actually started his political career as the Komulakan, or youth chief, when he was only in his 20s.
“When he held the Komulakan chief post starting in 2005, Ewon regularly visited villages in Penampang to help Upko elected representatives there,” Donald said.
He added that Ewon is set to become Upko’s youngest president when he takes over the reins from Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau after the party’s congress, which has been postponed to after the national polls.
He said the leadership transition was part of Upko’s rebranding and succession agenda.
