United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Ewon Benedick (third left) is the new Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairman.
United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Ewon Benedick has been elected as the new chairman of Sabah Pakatan Harapan (Pakatan), succeeding Datuk Seri Christina Liew, who held the position for seven years.
Benedick secured the leadership by a narrow three-vote margin during a Sabah Pakatan meeting attended by coalition leaders, including Liew, Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, DAP’s Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, and Sabah Parti Amanah Negara head Lahirul Latigu.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting on Sunday (Dec 1), Benedick acknowledged the weight of his new responsibility.
"As the new chairman of Sabah Pakatan, I shoulder a significant responsibility and face the considerable challenge of leading the coalition into the next term (2024-2026), particularly in addressing issues critical to Sabahans," he said.
He outlined key priorities, including advocating for development, safeguarding Sabah’s constitutional rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and supporting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Unity Government to ensure national stability and progress.
The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister said that Sabah Pakatan was granted autonomy in the last election to manage political collaborations and candidate selection independently under the coalition’s central leadership.
"My first step as chairman will be to convene the Sabah Pakatan Council in December to discuss broader issues. This meeting will not only focus on election preparedness but also on ensuring the Unity Government delivers on Sabah’s development and constitutional rights for a better future," he added.
He stressed that having a local party at the helm of Sabah Pakatan offers a fresh perspective but reiterated that the coalition’s core mission remains unchanged.
"Whether Sabah Pakatan is led by PKR, DAP, Amanah, or Upko is secondary. Our main responsibility is to ensure a brighter future for Sabah within the Malaysian Federation," Benedick said.
"Leadership positions are secondary to us; the focus is on achieving our shared vision for Sabah’s development," he added.
He said that the four-and-a-half-hour meeting proceeded smoothly, adhering to the coalition’s constitution.
When asked why Liew left the meeting early, he explained that many leaders have pressing responsibilities.
"Some of us will be responding to Parliamentary questions, while others are heading back to their constituencies," he said.
Expressing his gratitude to Liew, Benedick acknowledged her invaluable contributions as the coalition’s chairman, which helped secure their position in the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government.
Speculation about a leadership challenge to Liew's chairmanship by Upko began circulating as early as February this year.
Liew, who has held the position since 2017, had previously remarked that the appointment of the Pakatan state chief was entirely at the discretion of the Prime Minister.
This is not the first time Liew, who succeeded the late Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, chairman from 2012 to 2016, has faced speculation about being replaced.
There were earlier reports suggesting that Liew could be replaced by former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman.
