Ewon Benedick’s Resignation Seen as Turning Point in Sabah’s Fight for Rights

9 November 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The resignation of Datuk Ewon Benedick from the federal Cabinet marks a pivotal moment in Sabah’s ongoing struggle to reclaim its constitutional rights, said Urimai chairman Professor Dr P. Ramasamy.

In a statement shared on Facebook, Ramasamy described Ewon’s decision to step down as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives as “a resignation rooted in principle rather than politics.”

He said Ewon’s move reflected deep frustration with what the Upko president viewed as the federal government’s continuing disregard for Sabah’s rights as guaranteed under the Cobbold Commission Report, the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report, the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), and the Malaysia Act.

Ramasamy noted that Ewon had taken particular issue with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) decision to appeal against the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruling, which affirmed Sabah’s entitlement to 40 per cent of federal revenue collected from the state.

“The ruling was hailed as a long-overdue recognition of Sabah’s fiscal rights and celebrated widely across the state. Many, including political parties within the federal coalition, had urged Putrajaya not to appeal, viewing such a move as a betrayal of Sabah’s autonomy and dignity,” he said.

He added that the federal government’s insistence on proceeding with the appeal had reignited anger among Sabahans who saw it as yet another affront to their long-denied rights.

As Sabah heads towards its next state election, Ramasamy said the 40 per cent revenue entitlement issue is likely to dominate the political agenda. “The true test will be whether the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition and other federal-aligned leaders have the courage to stand up to Putrajaya and defend the court’s ruling,” he remarked.

He also observed that independent-minded Sabah leaders, including those within Upko, appear committed to advancing the state’s constitutional and economic rights.

“Since Malaysia’s formation in 1963, both Sabah and Sarawak have suffered from what many call the ‘imperialist policies’ of the federal government, despite repeated promises of reform,” Ramasamy said.

He added that the High Court’s decision represented not only a legal victory but also “a moral and historical reaffirmation of Sabah’s rightful place within the federation.”

Ramasamy said the coming Sabah election would not simply be a referendum on corruption or governance, but a contest over “dignity, autonomy, and identity.”

“Ewon Benedick’s resignation proves that principled leadership still exists — leadership that places the rights and future of Sabah above ministerial privilege or federal patronage. Though he has stepped down, his stature among freedom-loving Sabahans will only grow,” he said.

Ramasamy concluded that Ewon’s move had reignited the movement for the full restoration of Sabah’s rights, calling it “a juggernaut that may now be unstoppable.”