Will other Sabah representatives in the federal government follow Ewon's footsteps?

KUCHING, Nov 9 2025: There is nothing surprising or even shocking at the resignation of Ewon Benedict from his federal Cabinet post announced late last night.

Ewon Benedict:  It is very awkward for me to remain in the federal cabinet with such an AGC stance, which is clearly contrary to my struggle as UPKO president. 

His resignation as the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives has been anticipated after the Penampang division of United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) passed a resolution demanding for his resignation.

The division had, at its last month’s convention, wanted Ewon to resign from the federal Cabinet if the federal government filed an appeal against the Kota Kinabalu High’s landmark decision affirming Sabah’s right to 40 per cent of federal revenue collected from the state.

Ewon, who is a member of parliament for Penampan and state assembly for Kadaiman, had said he would comply with the resolution as a matter of principle.

However, the federal government has yet to file an appeal against the High Court’s judgment.

While Ewon’s resignation is not surprising and has long been anticipated, it is shocking that another federal minister and four deputy ministers from Sabah in the federal government have remained quiet.

They have so far not indicated or hinted that they would follow suit.

They are Papar MP Armizan Ali, who is also the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister, Mohd Yusof Apdal ( Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister), Chan Foong Hin ( Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister), Mustapha Sakmud (Deputy Higher Education Minister), and Arthur Kurup ( Deputy Agriculture and Food Security Minister).

Ewon, in a statement issued late last night, announced his resignation from the federal Cabinet, stating the federal Attorney General's Chambers’ (AGC) stance that allegedly ignored the spirit of the formation of the Federation of Malaysia and Sabah's rights in the issue of the special allocation of 40 percent of the Federation's net revenue to Sabah.

In his official statement posted on his Facebook, he said he took the decision after reviewing the written judgment of Kota Kinabalu High Court Judge Celestina Stuel Galid, regarding the judicial review filed by the Sabah Law Society (SLS) against the federal government's failure to fulfill its obligations under Article 112C and Subsection 2(1), Part IV, Tenth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

(Special grants and assignments of revenue to States of Sabah and Sarawak

112c. (1) Subject to the provisions of Article 112d and to any limitation expressed in the relevant section of the Tenth Schedule—

(a) the Federation shall make to the States of Sabah and Sarawak in respect of each financial year the grants specified in Part IV of that Schedule; and

(b) each of those States shall receive all proceeds from the taxes, fees and dues specified in Part V of that Schedule,so far as collected, levied or raised within the State, or such part of those proceeds as is so specified.

Part IV (Tenth Schedule)

SPECIAL GRANTS TO STATES OF SABAH AND SARAWAK

2. (1) In the case of Sabah, a grant of amount equal in each year to two-fifths of the amount by which the net revenue derived by the Federation from Sabah exceeds the net revenue which would have been so derived in the year 1963 if—

(a) the Malaysia Act had been in operation in that year as in the year 1964; and

(b) the net revenue for the year 1963 were calculated without regard to any alteration of any tax or fee made on or after Malaysia Day,

(“net revenue” meaning for this purpose the revenue which accrues to the Federation, less the amounts received by the State in respect of assignments of that revenue). 

Ewon said the AGC’s stance as stated in the written judgment had ignored the history of the formation of the Federation of Malaysia and the conditions of Sabah's agreement to form Malaysia with Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore.

He said he disagreed with the stance.

Singapore was later expelled from the federation.

Ewon stressed that he firmly adhered to the principles of UPKO which are based on the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and basic constitutional documents such as the Cobbold Commission Report, the IGC Report, and the Malaysia Act, which provide for Sabah's rights within the Federal structure.

"It is very awkward for me to remain in the federal cabinet with such an AGC stance, which is clearly contrary to my struggle as UPKO president.

“I remain of the opinion that AGC should not file an appeal, but rather initiate negotiations with the Sabah government to implement the 40 percent rights," he added.

Ewon also recalled that he had filed an Originating Summons (OS) against the federal government and the Sabah state government in June 2022 regarding the 40 percent rights, but withdrew the suit in September 2023 to give room for negotiations.

He said he would immediately send an official letter to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to inform him of his decision.

Among others, the Kota Kinabalu High Court judge issued a mandamus order directing the federal government to conduct a revenue review with the Sabah government under Article 112C of the Federal Constitution to reinstate Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue entitlement for each financial year from 1974 to 2021.

Under the order, the review must be conducted within 90 days, with both governments required to reach a mutual agreement within 180 days from the date of the order.

 

 

Be wary of those who attempt to diminish and belittle Sarawak's aspirations, governor warns

SIBU, Nov 8 2025: Governor Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has warned Sarawakians to always be on their guards against those who seek to diminish the  state’s efforts and to belittle its aspirations.

Tun Wan Junaidi handing over a scroll to one of the graduates at the convocation ceremony of University Technology Sarawak

He said there are attempts to continue to deny Sarawakians of their rights enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

“Our oil and gas have long been taken under laws unrecognized by the constitutional authority of our State Assembly,” he said at the 10^th convocation ceremony of University Technology Sarawak (UTS) here.

“But we must never surrender. We must never allow our aspirations to be mocked or our progress belittled.

“Instead, we must stand firm. United, we must support every endeavor to reclaim our rightful heritage for the sustainability of our development and the harmony of Malaysia,” said the former federal law minister said.

Wan Junaidi also urged Sarawakians not be swayed by those who wish to divide them, saying that they must remain wiser, more discerning, more educated.

He said urged UTS graduates not just to seek jobs or titles, but also to seek purpose and find out why things are happening or going to happen.

He said they should understand what Sarawak, and Malaysia, are striving to achieve, saying “When you align your knowledge with the nation’s vision, you will not only succeed but you will matter.”

The governor also reminded the graduates that knowledge without integrity is dangerous, that success built on dishonesty is fragile and will collapse.

He said they should never allow corruption to stain their achievements, saying that history has shown  that great civilisations have fallen because of corruption.

“This is why the Sarawak government has established the Ombudsman Department to uproot corruption and to preserve clean  and dynamic governance.

“But the fight against corruption should not be left to the government alone, it is a duty for every citizen, especially you, the graduates. Integrity is your shield and character is your compass,” Wan Junaidi said.

 He also advised the graduates to honour the sacrifices of their parents and mentors, reminding that they should not betray the trust of their parents and mentors.

“Let your actions speak of loyalty, honour, and compassion. Remember that true success is shared. It uplifts not only yourself, but your family, your community, and your nation,” he advised.

 

Commentary: The Sabah election: Can a coalition of Warisan, Star and SAPP topple Hajiji's GRS coalition?

By Simon Peter

Sabah elections, whether state or parliamentary, have always been exciting for every politically minded Sabahans. 

Even non-Sabahan Malaysians are also interested. They want to catch up with what’s happening there. For example, which parties are ganging up to form an election pact or will Parti Warisan Sabah gang up with Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) and Sabah  Progressive Party (SAPP)?

Hajiji Noor, caretaker Sabah Chief Minister

Non-Sabahan Malaysians, including Sarawakians, are also interested to know if caretaker Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and his Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) team will retain power or will Shafie Apdal, Parti Warisan president, get more state seats to form the next government?

Many hard-core supporters of Star are also hoping for their president Jeffery Kitingan to be the next chief minister.

The court case on the 40 per cent of the total  revenue collected in Sabah be returned to the state has suddenly become an important weapon for the local parties to win support in the election.

Jeffery has for years appealed to the federal government to honour what has been agreed to at the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

 

Shafie Apdal, Warisan president

This is one of the conditions for Sabah to agree to form the federation of Malaysia, along with Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore.

Despite being enshrined in the Federal Constitution, the condition has not been honoured.

GRS, under Hajiji, has told Sabahans to vote for continuity. Hajiji has also insisted that there is nothing in forming a coalition government with PKR and DAP, and an election pact with Umno.

Shafie, Jeffery and Yong Teck Lee, SAPP president, have been calling on the Sabahan voters to support the local parties, saying that it is time that Sabah be ruled once again by local parties.

After the collapse of the PBS government in 1994, Sabah has been ruled by a mixture of local and Malayan-based parties, with Umno playing the main role.

 Since then Umno-led coalition had ruled Sabah until 2018.

On May 9, 2018 state election, BN-Umno and its partners won with a simple majority. But then six of BN’s newly elected assemblymen, in the wee hours, switched sides to Parti Warisan.

Thus, Parti Warisan and its coalition partners, PKR and DAP, with the support of UPKO, managed to form a pact of 39 seats in order to form a coalition government.

Jeffery Kitinga, Star president

On May 12, Shafie was sworn-in the chief minister, replacing Musa Aman.

However, Shafie dissolved the Sabah State Assembly on July 29, 2020 after Parti Warian-led government lost power, again when many state assemblymen from Parti Warisan crossed over and gave their support to Musa.

On September 29, 2020 state election, Parti Warisan, PKR, DAP and UPKO lost power to Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition of nine parties.

In early 1994, the PBS government collapsed after several of its state assembly left the party. Some of the present federal and state leaders involved in engineering the downfall of the PBS government are still active in politics or holding important posts in the federal and Sabah governments.

Many of those who left PBS are now leaders of their own parties.

After the downfall of the PBS government, an Umno-led Sabah government was formed. Those who had left PBS also joined the Umno-led government.

That is why I always say Sabah politics is very fluid. The only thing predictable in Sabah politics is unpredictable.

We cannot say for sure what will happen next immediately after the Nov 29 state election because anything can happen when it is the lest unexpected.

I once told a fellow journalist from Sarawak that if you want to know more about political tricks, money politics and back-stabbings, then you’ve got to look at Sabah for examples.

Seeing what had been happening in the past, we cannot say for sure that the winning coalition will form the next Sabah government.

While we cannot expect individual state assemblyman to change sides because of the anti-party hopping law, there is nothing to prevent a party from doing so.

The law does not cover political parties.

Switching sides should not be ruled out after the results of the Nov 29 Sabah state election have been all been declared. It is certain that a series of negotiations will take place among the parties.

Some of the interesting points being repeatedly raised by the local parties, especially Star, SAPP and Parti Warisan leaders, are:

“Look at Sarawak. It is ruled by GPS. No Malayan parties. Why can’t we in Sabah do the same?

“Sarawak is far ahead of us (in term of development).

“They have good roads (Pan Borneo Highway). They have their own airline.

“Most important of all Sarawak is very stable (politically) under Abang Jo.

“Do you think federal government dare to disturb Abang Jo?”

One thing is certain. Money politics will play an important role in deciding which coalition will form the next Sabah government.