KOTA KINABALU, Dec 1 — United Progressive Organization of Kinabalu (Upko) president Datuk Ewon Benedick was selected as Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) president for the 2024-2026 term at the Sabah PH meeting. today, replacing Datuk Seri Christina Liew, who has held the position since 2017.

Ewon said the position represented a huge responsibility for him as he wanted Sabah PH to ensure that the MADANI government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim remained stable to develop Sabah and the country.

“Sabah PH has autonomy in determining governance and political partnerships. The decision of the Sabah PH meeting today met all the requirements of the PH constitution and went smoothly.

“I would like to express my gratitude to Christina for her great contributions as President of Sabah PH. We will formally announce the decision to the PH leadership intermittently,” he said at a press conference after today’s meeting, which was attended by the chairman of the state governing council of Sabah PKR, Datuk Mustapha Sakmud, Sabah DAP president Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, and Sabah Amanah president Lahirul. Latigue.

Ewon said although he was from Upko, a Sabah party, Sabah PH did not need to be led by a local party as the coalition had many larger visions and goals, which are to give a better future for Sabahans.

“Sabah PH, whether led by PKR, DAP, Amanah or Upko, has the same duties, which is to ensure a better future for Sabah within the Federation of Malaysia. So the question of who is the president is secondary for us,” he said.

Regarding preparations for the upcoming elections in Sabah, he said the first step he will take as Sabah PH president will be to recall the coalition’s mechanisms for discussing the elections.

Meanwhile, Liew told reporters that she held no hard feelings and wished the Sabah PH leadership all the best.

“What is most important is that we stand united in Sabah PH, especially in the face of the upcoming national elections. I will focus on Api-Api (state constituency) to ensure that we can win and defend the seat,” she added. — Bernama