KOTA KINABALU: Upko’s acceptance as part of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition is exactly where the party should be, said Datuk Ewon Benedick (pic).
“I am glad to be able to bring Upko to a place where it should be, which is in a local coalition of parties,” he said after receiving confirmation from GRS that Upko has been accepted as one of its components.
He said that as a local party in the GRS coalition, Upko has in a way reinstated the original objective behind the formation of Malaysia under the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“Only Sabahan parties understand the needs of Sabah in developing its future according to the MA63,” said Ewon in a statement on Friday (June 19).
On Thursday (June 19), GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced that Upko has been accepted as the sixth member party of GRS.
He said the decision was unanimous and that no party raised issues or concerns about accepting Upko, after the latter applied to join on May 29.
Ewon said it will contribute to the strengthening of GRS for the development of the state under the leadership of Hajiji.
Other than Upko, GRS consist of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah led by Hajiji, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) led by its acting president Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Parti Liberal Demokratik (LDP) under Datuk Chin Su Phin, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan) under Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) under Tan Sri Anifah Aman.
