Ewon takes over as UPKO president

15 January 2023

By Wartawan Nabalu News

PENAMPANG: Vice President of Pertubuhan Kinabalu Progresif Bersatu (UPKO) Datuk Ewon Benedick officially took over the position of party president from Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau who did not defend the position in the party election.

The handover ceremony was held online at the UPKO Triannual Representative Conference at the Penampang Cultural Centre here today.

Ewon who is also the Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development Minister delivered his closing speech online as he had to attend the official Settlement Ceremony of the Cabinet Ministers of the Unity Government together with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Seri Perdana Putrajaya today.

“I apologise for delivering this closing speech virtually because I am attending the Federal Unity Government Cabinet Members' Settlement in Putrajaya held today. This settlement must be attended by all members of the Council of Ministers.

“Nevertheless, I observed the progress of the conference and was aware of the proposals presented as well as the matters raised by the delegates.

“The spirit and soul of my struggle is always together with all the fellow leaders and party members who are convening at the Sabah Cultural Centre," he said when delivering his closing speech.

Ewon who is also Penampang MP and Kadamaian State Assemblyman said that the Council of Ministers Settlement, among other things, discussed the coordination of the Manifesto of the Unity Government and the Implementation of the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) of the Members of the Council of Ministers.

He said the two matters discussed were very related to UPKO's struggle and service, including matters that had been raised throughout the UPKO conference.

“I would also like to express my appreciation to our Honorary President, Datuk Seri Madius for the consistency of his leadership and his struggle to ensure that six main issues related to the rights and interests of Sabah were included in the manifesto or Tawaran Pakatan Harapan in the recent general election.

"Now I bear the responsibility to raise this manifesto to the highest decision-making table in our country, which is the meeting of the Federal Council of Ministers.

“I would like to reiterate my commitment that I am fighting for a solution to the matters stated in the manifesto, including the matters raised by the delegates throughout the conference," he said.