Upko chief Benedick prays for Sabah STAR, PBS unity efforts to bear fruit

KOTA KINABALU: Parti Upko is closely watching efforts by two native-based parties to make a fresh political attempt to unify the ethnic Kadazandusum, Murut, and Rungus communities.

Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick said that the initiatives for cooperation between Sabah STAR and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) were good for Sabah though similar attempts by native-based parties had been made previously.

“I welcome such an initiative and in such matters, I hope that both PBS and Sabah STAR will achieve their objectives,” Benedick told reporters after hosting a Christmas open house in Penampang near here on Tuesday (Dec 26).

He said that the native people were closely watching discussions for the various parties to work together.

“I pray that such cooperation will become a reality.

“Hopefully, one day, our side (Upko) could be a part of this significant unification in Sabah, with a particular emphasis on the collaboration of native-based parties at both the national and state levels,” said Benedick, whose native Upko-based party was part of the Sabah Pakatan Harapan coalition.

Since November, Sabah STAR led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and PBS led by Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili have initiated “party-to-party” talks to work together in the next state election with the key target to work closely on native seats.

Both PBS and Sabah STAR are part of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition and are warming up their strained relations by jointly hosting a Christmas open house in Penampang near here on Monday (Dec 25).

Since the fall of the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) state government led by Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan in 1994, splinter native-based parties were formed and these included Upko and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).

Jeffrey, who joined or led various parties after leaving his brother’s PBS in 1994, eventually formed Sabah STAR.

On the mechanism for the return of 40% of the federal revenue from the state, Benedick said he will be making a proposal to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to propose a revenue repayment scheme.

“We are proposing separate discussions to be held between Sabah and the Federal Government on the state revenue entitlements,” he said, adding it includes the unpaid revenue from 1974.