KOTA KINABALU: United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) wants Sabah Pakatan Harapan to be granted autonomy in deciding on its allies in the next state election.
Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick (pic) confirmed that formal discussions on Sabah Pakatan’s cooperation with other parties have not taken place.
He stressed that autonomy would enable Sabah Pakatan to form alliances aligned with the current political climate.
“There has been no final decision regarding Pakatan’s cooperation with any party at this stage for the upcoming election,” he said in a statement after Upko's supreme council meeting here on Tuesday (Oct 29).
"Sabah Pakatan needs to select partners with a shared foundation of struggle, particularly in advocating for the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), securing one-third of parliamentary seats, and demanding the 40% revenue entitlement,” he added.
Ewon’s remarks followed Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s recent statement that Barisan and Pakatan had finalised their collaboration for the Sabah election, scheduled for next year.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said the cooperation between the two coalitions would provide a strong foundation for the upcoming state polls.
"We have never shut the door on collaboration with coalitions or parties in Sabah, and we won’t adopt the outdated approach that leaves no room for negotiations," Ahmad Zahid said during a Deepavali gathering at the Bagan Datuk Umno Complex on Sunday (Oct 27).
He also noted that Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin’s stance aligns with both the Sabah political landscape and the national situation.
