By Mohd Khairy Abdullah @ DG Henry
KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), November 10, 2025 — The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) has announced its immediate withdrawal from Pakatan Harapan (PH) following a Special Supreme Council meeting convened on Monday to deliberate the party’s political direction anchored on the Sabah First agenda.
UPKO Secretary-General Datuk Nelson W. Agang said the decision came after the party’s President, Datuk Ewon Benedick, resigned as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives in protest against the stance taken by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) during the ongoing judicial review on Sabah’s constitutional right to 40 per cent of federal revenue, filed by the Sabah Law Society (SLS).
“The meeting unanimously supported the President’s principled decision, which reflects UPKO’s steadfast commitment to the Sabah First struggle, particularly concerning the 40 per cent revenue entitlement,” Nelson said in an official statement on Monday.
He noted that throughout UPKO’s four-year partnership with PH, the party consistently prioritised the Sabah First agenda in election manifesto negotiations and in the governance framework of the Unity Government led by PH. However, differences in interpretation and approach persisted between UPKO and national PH components over the implementation of Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue rights, the demand for one-third of parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, and the question of administrative autonomy for PH Sabah.
According to Nelson, the issue of PH Sabah’s chairmanship — which was supposed to be held by UPKO — was never resolved by the PH Presidential Council following objections from PKR Sabah, even though the election process was conducted legitimately by PH headquarters administrators.
“UPKO not only faced public criticism, but the valid election outcome was also disregarded. The UPKO President was later appointed only as coordinator, while key decisions on election preparation continued to be made by PKR without granting real autonomy to PH Sabah,” he said.
Amid the growing divergence, UPKO reassessed its position and concluded that Sabah’s political future should be championed primarily by local parties.
“Only Sabah-based parties truly understand the heartbeat, aspirations and long-term vision of the people, grounded in the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the constitutional rights of Sabah — particularly the 40 per cent revenue entitlement,” he added.
Nelson stressed that UPKO maintains its position that the 40 per cent entitlement is a distinct constitutional right and cannot be conflated with the federal government’s financial obligations under the Federal List.
“UPKO is ready to collaborate with other Sabah-based parties that share the Sabah First agenda to ensure the full implementation of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement,” he said.
He further emphasised that while UPKO seeks to maintain a constructive relationship with the federal government, such cooperation must be grounded in genuine respect for the spirit and intent of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“After reviewing our four-year participation in PH and heeding the people’s call for unity among Sabah’s local parties ahead of the coming election, the UPKO Supreme Council has unanimously decided to withdraw from PH with immediate effect,” Nelson said.
He added that the decision will be formally conveyed to the PH Chairman and component parties.
Nelson also confirmed that UPKO Members of Parliament Datuk Ewon Benedick and Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau will continue to uphold the decree of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to maintain political stability at the federal level until the end of the current term.
Ewon’s resignation last Saturday marks a significant political shift in Sabah’s landscape ahead of the 17th State Election (PRN-17).
