UPKO Withdraws from Pakatan Harapan, Citing Sabah’s Rights and Autonomy

10 November 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) has officially announced its withdrawal from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, effective immediately, following a special meeting of its Supreme Council held earlier today.

In a statement released by UPKO Secretary-General Datuk Nelson W. Angang, the party said the decision was made after reviewing its four-year participation in the coalition and in light of continuing differences with PH over Sabah’s constitutional and financial rights.

The meeting also expressed full support for UPKO President Datuk Ewon Benedick, who recently resigned as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives after disagreeing with the position taken by the Attorney General’s Chambers during the judicial review proceedings related to Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement, filed by the Sabah Law Society.

“Throughout our time in Pakatan Harapan, UPKO consistently championed the Sabah First agenda. However, we have seen persistent differences in interpretation, opinion, and policy direction between UPKO and other PH component parties at the national level,” Nelson stated.

According to him, these differences concern key issues such as the implementation of Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement, the demand for one-third of parliamentary seats for Sabah and Sarawak, and the failure to implement administrative autonomy for PH Sabah.

It was also noted that its chairmanship of PH Sabah, determined through the PH Sabah General Meeting, was never recognised by the PH Presidential Council following objections from Sabah PKR. Despite this, UPKO had faced open criticism even though the decision was made through an official process overseen by the PH Headquarters.

In the statement, Nelson further claimed that subsequent decisions regarding election preparations within PH were made unilaterally by PKR, leaving PH Sabah without real autonomy.

UPKO had reassessed its political direction and concluded that only Sabah-based parties “truly understand the heartbeat, soul, vision, and aspirations of Sabah’s future”, as outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution, particularly regarding the state’s 40 per cent entitlement.

“UPKO maintains that Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement is distinct from the Federal Government’s responsibilities under the Federal List,” Nelson stated.

The party remains open to working with other local Sabah parties that share its Sabah First vision in order to pursue the full implementation of MA63 and safeguard Sabah’s rights more effectively.

While affirming the importance of maintaining good relations between the Federal and Sabah state governments, he stressed that such cooperation must be based on “the spirit, intent, and essence” of MA63.

After deliberation, the Supreme Council resolved to withdraw from Pakatan Harapan with immediate effect. The decision will be officially communicated to the PH Chairman and other component parties.

Despite leaving PH, Nelson confirmed that the party's two Members of Parliament, Datuk Ewon Benedick and Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau, would continue to support His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s call to preserve political stability at the federal level until the end of the current parliamentary term.