Kota Kinabalu: Upko President Datuk Ewon Benedick insists his decision to resign from the Federal Cabinet, along with Upko’s withdrawal from Pakatan Harapan, was to send a clear message to the Federal Government and the Prime Minister on Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
He rebutted Transport Minister Anthony Loke’s criticism that he was “playing politics”, saying his position had been clear and consistent during Cabinet discussions the past three years.
“This is not the first time the 40 per cent issue was raised in Cabinet. It was discussed in late 2022, again in 2023, in 2024, and again immediately after the High Court ruling on Oct 17, 2025,” he said.
Ewon said in a Facebook post that he had repeatedly stressed that Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement under the Malaysia Agreement was not the same as federal development allocations.
“For three years, I received the same answers that was repeated (by the Prime Minister) during his Gaya Street walkabout,” he said.
He questioned Loke’s own stance on the matter, asking whether the Transport Minister ever spoke firmly in Cabinet to defend Sabah’s position.
Ewon also dismissed Loke’s suggestion that he should have confronted the Attorney-General directly, noting that this was not the first time the AG had been invited to brief ministers.
“I made it clear that any Bill with major implications for Sabah must have the consent of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri,” he said.
“Maybe the speeches by Sabah MPs were not strong enough. That is why I chose to resign, to defend Sabah’s 40 per cent rights.”
Ewon said the special Cabinet meeting had agreed to “respect Sabah’s 40 per cent entitlement” but he noted it was inconsistent for the Government to simultaneously appeal parts of the High Court decision.
“The Government filed a notice of appeal on Nov. 13. There are eight points you want to challenge,” he said, and called on Loke, the Federal Cabinet and the Prime Minister to explain the eight grounds of appeal to Sabahans.
Ewon reiterated that he respects Loke and the Prime Minister, but that defending Sabah’s constitutional rights remains central to his political mission.
“Upko was formed to fight for the Malaysia Agreement and Sabah’s rights under the Federal Constitution,” he said.
He also commended civil society groups and Sabahans who raised the issue publicly, describing them as “the real heroes”.
“I am not trying to be a hero. The real heroes are the Sabah Law Society and the youths who asked the Prime Minister when the 40 per cent will be paid,” he said.
“This is my red line. As Sabahans, we must continue this struggle,” he said.
