Kota Kinabalu: The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) has applied to become the sixth component of the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
Upko President Datuk Ewon Benedick led a party delegation in a meeting with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who is also the GRS Chairman, to formally hand over its application Friday.
“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.
“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 State Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship, and Transport Minister, said the Upko Supreme Council meeting on May 25 unanimously agreed to apply to become a component party of GRS.
Following the move, GRS would soon command almost all KadazanDusunMuruts (KDM) support as the other KDM dominated party, PBS, is also a member.
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.
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 Assemblyman, Tangau who is Tamparuli state assemblyman and Datuk Donald Peter Mojuntin who is Moyog Assemblyman.
Upko was part of Barisan Nasional from 1994 until 2018. It left the coalition after the 14th general election in 2018 to form the Sabah government with Warisan and PH.
It then formally joined PH in August 2021 and contested under the coalition’s banner in Sabah during the 15th general election the following year.
