UPKO Tenom 2025 Convention: A Rising Tide of Political Awakening in Sabah’s Interior Ahead of PRN-17
By Mohd Khairy Abdullah @ DG Henry
TENOM (Sabah, Malaysia), October 5, 2025 — As Sabah’s political temperature rises in the countdown to the 17th State Election (PRN-17), all eyes turned to the interior district of Tenom today, where the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) held its UPKO Tenom 2025 Convention — widely seen by political observers as the party’s final and most crucial convention before the official election period begins.
For UPKO, this gathering represents more than an annual meeting; it is a manifestation of a renewed political awakening in Sabah’s heartland, driven with fresh confidence under the leadership of its President, Datuk Ewon Benedick. His keynote address is expected not only to rally thousands of supporters but also to send a clear signal that UPKO is ready to challenge the dominance of traditional political blocs in Sabah’s interior.
Strategically, the convention underscores UPKO’s efforts to reorganize its grassroots machinery across Tenom, particularly in the Melalap state constituency, which has become a central focus for the party. Here, a new wave of rural consciousness is taking shape — one that is energetic, coordinated, and grounded in a growing political awareness.
On the ground, preparations for the convention have been intense and community-driven. Party machinery is working in unison, while local villagers — many from the Timugon and Dusun ethnic groups — have volunteered their time and resources to decorate venues and participate in mobilization efforts. This spontaneous involvement has been interpreted by analysts as an early sign of shifting political currents in Sabah’s interior.
UPKO Tenom Division Chief, Junik Bajit, has emerged as a key local figure in this resurgence. Within a short span of time, he has built remarkable grassroots trust and is now seen as a symbol of political renewal for Melalap. The overwhelming public response to his leadership reflects a maturing political consciousness among rural voters, who no longer wish to remain passive spectators in the state’s political game.
“This wave of support is not merely emotional — it is a political awakening. The people of Sabah’s interior now want to be represented by someone who truly understands their realities,” Junik said, projecting confidence in UPKO’s mission.
From a geopolitical standpoint, Tenom parliamentary constituency comprises two state seats — Melalap and Kemabong. Yet, current political dynamics indicate that Melalap is fast becoming the epicentre of UPKO’s strategic realignment — a testing ground for its capacity to expand influence and contest long-standing political strongholds.
The convention, attended by thousands of supporters across ethnic lines, is not only a rallying moment of internal unity but also a reflection of Sabah’s growing socio-political consciousness and inter-ethnic solidarity. The newfound alliance between the Timugon and Dusun communities marks a powerful narrative of inclusive politics built on a distinctly Sabahan identity.
For many analysts, the UPKO Tenom 2025 Convention transcends party symbolism. It represents a structural shift in the balance of power in Sabah’s interior, where rural communities are beginning to reject elitist politics in favour of grassroots-driven movements rooted in their lived experience.
With the official announcement of PRN-17 expected in the coming days, the Tenom Convention sends a decisive message — UPKO is no longer a peripheral player, but an emerging force in Sabah’s interior political landscape.
“From Tenom to Melalap, this movement is more than politics — it is a people’s awakening,” remarked a local political observer, describing the event as the first wave of change that could reshape Sabah’s political map.
Ultimately, the UPKO Tenom 2025 Convention stands as more than a mere political gathering. It is the beginning of a new narrative of empowerment in Sabah’s interior, where the voices of the people are reclaiming their place in the mainstream of both state and national politics.
