Set for the polls: A file photo of Election Commission chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun showing the map of the Sabah state seats. — Bernama
Ewon’s resignation seen as a strategic step to rally support for Upko in Sabah
PETALING JAYA: Datuk Ewon Benedick’s resignation from the federal Cabinet has drawn interest for its timing, with political observers saying it is a calculated move to shore up his United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) party for the Sabah polls.
The Upko president announced late on Saturday that he would step down as Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, citing his disagreement with the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) over its stance in the 40% Sabah revenue entitlement case.
Ewon said the AGC’s position ignored the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and Sabah’s constitutional rights, principles he had pledged to uphold as part of his party’s founding objectives.
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Observers said the decision reflected the shifting dynamics of Sabah’s politics, with voters historically backing local parties over federal based ones.
Universiti Malaya senior lecturer Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub felt Ewon’s move was intended to safeguard Upko’s image by reaffirming its commitment to Sabah’s rights.
“I believe this is a tactic to rally support, especially for Upko ahead of the 17th Sabah state election.
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“Ewon’s resignation sends a clear message from Sabah leaders on how they view the MA63,” he said when contacted.
Mohammad Tawfik said Ewon’s move was necessary to prevent any erosion of Upko’s credibility.
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan echoed the view, saying: “I am more inclined to believe that this is all about the Sabah state elections and that Ewon wants to use MA63 to secure more seats.”
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Azmi, however, said Ewon must clarify whether his resignation means Upko will remain aligned with the government bloc or withdraw its support.
Dr Lau Zhe Wei, International Islamic University Malaysia’s assistant professor at the Department of Political Science and Madani Studies, described Ewon’s decision as “necessary political repositioning”.
He said Upko leaders would need to distance themselves from federal-based parties ahead of the state elections to demonstrate their loyalty to local interests.
“They have to justify how they are taking care of Sabahans because Sabah issues will dominate the campaign,” he added.
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Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Professor Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said while the resignation was seen as a calculated move to show Sabahans that Upko was committed to their rights, there had been no indication that Ewon planned to leave the Madani government.
He said he did not think that it was Ewon’s intention for Upko to leave Pakatan Harapan which it joined in 2021.
“It’s just him relinquishing an appointed position in the Cabinet,” he added.
Sivamurugan added that even if Upko was to withdraw support, the move would not affect the stability of the Madani government’s two-thirds majority in Parliament.
“The three-year mark of the current Parliament has been reached, so even if someone withdraws support now, it will not affect the government’s position in the Dewan Rakyat.
“In fact, some may even lend additional support to the government,” he said.
Ewon, who is the Penampang MP and Kadamaian assemblyman, is expected to formally submit his resignation letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Upko prepares to hold a special meeting today to discuss its “Sabah First” direction.
Meanwhile, Anwar indicated that he will respond later to Ewon’s decision to resign from his Cabinet post.
“I will, I will,” he told reporters who asked for his comments on the issue in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.
