PUTRAJAYA: United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Ewon Benedick is officially no longer a member of the federal Cabinet following his swearing-in as Sabah’s Deputy Chief Minister III, says Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi said the Cabinet was informed on Friday (Dec 5) that Ewon, who had earlier been granted a leave of absence, had taken his oath as a member of the Sabah Cabinet after the formation of the state government last weekend.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed his appreciation to Datuk Ewon. Once he was sworn in as a member of the Sabah Cabinet, he technically ceased to be a federal Cabinet minister.
“Although he was previously on leave for the Sabah election campaign, his federal Cabinet position automatically ended upon his swearing-in as Deputy Chief Minister III,” Fahmi told reporters at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here on the same day.
Fahmi was met after attending the launch of International Anti-Corruption Day 2025.
Ewon, who is also the Kadamaian state assemblyman, had earlier resigned as Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister after expressing dissatisfaction with the federal government’s decision to appeal the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruling on the 40% revenue-sharing entitlement for Sabah.
