Ewon’s Upko applies to join GRS, moves to deepen Sabah coalition ties

KOTA KINABALU, May 29 — The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) is officially asking to become a component party of the governing Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.

Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick led a party delegation in a meeting with Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also the GRS chairman, to formally hand over its application today.

“Upko hopes to contribute towards the unity and cooperation of Sabah-based parties in strengthening efforts to develop Sabah’s future as well as championing rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 and the Federal Constitution,” he said in a statement here today.

“The ‘Sabah First’ vision championed by Upko is aligned with GRS’ struggle through the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 roadmap, which must be strengthened through closer cooperation and unity among Sabah local parties,” he added.

Ewon, who is deputy chief minister III and Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship, and Transport minister, added that the Upko Supreme Council meeting on May 25 unanimously agreed to apply to become a component party of GRS.

GRS currently has five component parties — Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat/PGRS), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) after the departure of several parties following the state election.

Upko controversially announced its withdrawal from Pakatan Harapan (PH) last November just before the 2025 state election, citing deepening differences with national component parties over the interpretation and implementation of Sabah’s constitutional rights — particularly the 40 per cent revenue entitlement — and the lack of real autonomy for PH Sabah.

It was also known that the party was experiencing frustration with the leadership of the central and state PH leadership when Ewon was elected PH Sabah chairman, which was never formalised by the national leadership.

Their withdrawal was seen as a major point towards a “Sabah First” movement, but they gained some backlash later when they supported the GRS and PH collaboration after the election that helped allow them to form the government.

Upko has two elected representatives in Parliament — Penampang’s Ewon and Tuaran’s Datuk Seri Madius Tangau.

They also have three state representatives — Ewon who is Kadamaian state assemblyman, Tangau who is Tamparuli state assemblyman and Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin who is Moyog assemblyman.