UPKO must act as a mediator for the people

15 October 2023

By AVV

KOTA KINABALU: The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) has positioned itself as a mediator for the people, according to its president Datuk Ewon Benedick. He stressed the crucial role UPKO plays in addressing the issues faced by the people.

During UPKO Mini Convention for Zone D in Papar today Ewon expressed his commitment to addressing the grievances raised during the convention, saying that he would respond and highlight various issues that was shared by party members.

He listened to grouses about poor road conditions, inadequate telecommunications, and other infrastructure concerns voiced by representatives from UPKO Papar, UPKO Kimanis, and UPKO Beaufort.

He said some of these concerns fell under his Ministry, the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDAC) such as improving the infrastructure of stalls in the suburbs. A certain allocation has been provided for this purpose that would be channeled to them next year.

“As for issues pertaining to electricity, water, roads and streetlights I sit in Cabinet once a week and I will bring up this matter to the Chief Minister. This can be an agenda for our discussions,” he said.

He also spoke on unemployment issues brought up by members.

In the upcoming year, the focus will be on youth programmes aimed at guiding their future path.

"Specifically, we need to discuss the challenges faced by young individuals who are unable to pursue the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. With over thirty thousand such individuals, the question arises of how they can proceed to university without an SPM qualification. This situation poses a significant risk of poverty for these individuals."

He said UPKO youth members will be mobilised to undertake the role of information dissemination to these individuals.

"To tackle this issue, my ministry has introduced five new schemes, including the Young Entrepreneur Scheme, targeted at teenagers and young adults aged 30 and below. Last year, the grant amount was set at RM15,000, but this year it has been increased to RM30,000. The application process for this scheme is still open, and it is crucial to disseminate this information to the youth," Ewon stressed.

Interested individuals can apply online, and presently Sabah have the highest number of applicants and approvals for this scheme.

It's important to note that this youth business scheme is separate from the Bumiputra Entrepreneur Scheme, which offers a grant of RM250,000. This initiative is the first of its kind in Sabah and Sarawak and presents a valuable opportunity for Sabahans to explore entrepreneurial ventures.

Additionally, party members who apply and receive these grants can utilise the funds to purchase machinery for various business ventures, such as laundry services, bakeries, and grocery stores, among others.

This provision aims to support individuals who may have missed out on projects that were allocated to party members, contractors, or other entities.

In Sabah, a total of 68 grants have been allocated under the Grant for Sabah and Sarawak programmes.

Ewon reiterated that UPKO has a responsibility to act as a mediator and as a political party, UPKO strives to actively listen to the grievances and voices of the citizens and work towards finding solutions.

The role of mediator allows to facilitate dialogue, negotiations, and compromises between the parties involved, ultimately benefiting the people.