By Mohd Khairy Abdullah @ DG Henry
SOOK (Sabah, Malaysia), 11 November 2025 – In an era of Malaysian politics often defined by compromise, central domination, and moral fatigue among leaders, one son of Sabah has chosen to stand against the tide — Datuk Ewon Benedick. He is not merely the President of UPKO (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation); he has emerged as a new symbol of courage in Malaysia’s modern political landscape.
Ewon’s decision to resign as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) was not a political maneuver — it was a moral declaration, an act of integrity by a leader who refuses to be complicit in a system that perpetuates injustice towards Sabah. In a national political culture where positions are often traded for loyalty, Ewon chose the difficult path — the path of principle.
At the core of his decision lies one of the most fundamental but long-neglected issues — Sabah’s constitutional right to 40 percent of federal tax revenue collected in the state, as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). While many politicians choose rhetoric, Ewon chose action — demonstrating not just courage but conviction.
For the people of Sabah, his move was not just an act of defiance, but a declaration of dignity — a stand against the historical marginalization of Borneo by the federal center. In simple terms, it was the embodiment of politics with honour.
Ewon has made it clear that Sabah must no longer live under Kuala Lumpur’s shadow. During his leadership in Pakatan Harapan (PH), he was democratically chosen as PH Sabah Chairman, yet his role was systematically sidelined — reduced to a mere observer in decisions dictated by Peninsular-based parties, particularly PKR.
This reality underscores the asymmetry of power in Malaysia’s federal politics, where local parties are often treated as decorative partners in a coalition dominated by the peninsular elite. PH’s decision to allocate only two seats to UPKO while PKR monopolized the rest exemplifies this imbalance.
But Ewon refused to be a token figure in history. His decision to withdraw UPKO from PH was a calculated and courageous act that redefined Sabah’s political trajectory and signaled a new era of local empowerment.
Through this move, Ewon sent a powerful message — Sabah’s politics must be shaped by Sabahans, with the courage to demand rightful participation in national decision-making.
Within the broader Malaysian context, Ewon’s defiance places him among a rare class of leaders — those willing to relinquish power for the sake of principle. In Malaysia’s modern political history, only a handful have chosen resignation over compromise, and Ewon’s name now stands among them.
Malaysia stands at a crossroads: citizens are weary of empty rhetoric, and Sabah’s younger generation demands leadership that is progressive yet grounded in local identity. In this landscape, Ewon emerges as a transformative leader — one capable of reconciling Borneo’s idealism with Malaysia’s political realities.
UPKO’s departure from PH is not an act of recklessness; it is a strategic recalibration aimed at restoring Sabah’s political sovereignty. It paves the way for a new political bloc rooted in the principle of “Sabah First,” rekindling public confidence in the power of local politics.
As the 17th Sabah State Election (PRN-17) approaches, the message is unmistakably clear:
Sabah no longer needs external parties to determine its destiny. What Sabah needs are leaders with courage, conviction, and an unyielding sense of purpose.
And in the face of today’s Malaysian politics, Datuk Ewon Benedick stands as the Hero of Modern Sabah Politics — a reminder that integrity still matters, that courage is still possible, and that Sabah’s voice will no longer be silenced.
