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Ewon told to be realistic over calls for power sharing

Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir (right) says Upko president Ewon Benedick (left) must bear in mind his party holds only one seat in the 73-seat Sabah assembly.
Describing it as an “inappropriate” and “illogical” request, Jeniri said meeting Upko’s demand for power sharing at the local level would displease other parties backing the state government.

PETALING JAYA: Upko president Ewon Benedick must be practical in his demand for power sharing in the appointment of grassroots leaders in Sabah by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Pakatan Harapan assemblymen, says an analyst.

Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir said Ewon must bear in mind that his party only holds one seat in the 73-seat Sabah assembly.

“I disagree with him because it is not fair for GRS (and) the government under (chief minister) Hajiji Noor, since Upko only has one seat,” Jeniri told FMT.

Describing it as an “inappropriate” and “illogical” request, Jeniri said meeting Upko’s demand for power sharing at the local level would displease other parties backing the state government.

Last week, The Borneo Post quoted Ewon as saying that some Upko members were unhappy with the purportedly unbalanced appointment of grassroots leaders, especially in constituencies not represented by PH.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.

He said the cooperation between GRS and Sabah PH should translate into power sharing, starting with the appointment of the “ketua adat” in every district.

Upko is a coalition partner in PH, together with PKR, DAP and Amanah.

Ewon said he had implemented a “60:40 power-sharing formula” in his state constituency, Kadamaian.

“I hope that this power-sharing formula can serve as an example for assemblymen of other constituencies, because without the support of PH assemblymen, the current government in Sabah would not have been sustained,” he said.

Jeniri said that if at all, such power sharing arrangements should only be done in areas where Upko could show it had strong grassroots support.

“I don’t deny the fact that their (Upko’s) support (for the GRS-led government) is important, but, at the same time, they need to be realistic,” he said.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah’s Lee Kuok Tiung said the proposed formula by Ewon is good, but it would require the approval of all parties involved.

“Of course, he has to do his best to fight for the rights and destiny of his party, but there are things that are done collectively. That is what power sharing truly means,” he said.

Lee said most grassroots appointments were made before PH backed GRS in forming a unity government, so terminating existing ones to give up the positions to Upko would not be right either.

He also said a position such as “ketua adat” was not intended to represent a political party, but should instead represent all regardless of political ideology.

‘Ainin Wan Salleh 

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