KOTA KINABALU: United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) has officially withdrawn from Pakatan Harapan (PH) after four years, citing irreconcilable differences over Sabah’s constitutional rights and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
Upko secretary-general Datuk Nelson W Angang said on Monday that the decision followed a special Supreme Council meeting that reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the “Sabah First” agenda championed by its president Datuk Ewon Benedick.
He said the move supports Ewon’s earlier resignation as Federal Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister due to disagreements with the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ stance in the 40 per cent revenue entitlement judicial review filed by the Sabah Law Society.
Nelson said Upko’s participation in PH had been marked by repeated disputes with national coalition partners over Sabah’s 40 per cent revenue claim, parliamentary seat distribution, and administrative autonomy for Sabah PH.
He said Upko will now prioritise cooperation with local Sabah-based parties that share its mission to uphold MA63 and advance the “Sabah First” struggle more effectively.
