Ewon’s Resignation Sparks Renewed Debate on Sabah and Putrajaya Relations

KOTA KINABALU: A sharply worded statement issued today has intensified debate over federal – state relations, after UPKO President Datuk Ewon Benedick’s decision to resign from the Cabinet and withdraw his party’s support for the Unity Government triggered strong reactions from national leaders.

The statement, addressed to DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke, accused the Transport Minister of adopting a “patronising tone” in criticising Ewon’s move — a tone the author claimed reflected a long-standing imbalance in the relationship between Malayan political leadership and the Bornean states.

The statement argued that remarks directed at Ewon “echoed deep-rooted colonial dynamics” that have shaped Malaysia’s federation structure since its formation.

According to the document, Malaysia “was not formed through equal partnership,” but through political and administrative conditions that placed Sabah (then North Borneo) and Sarawak in unequal positions at the point of federation

“It further alleged that both Bornean territories were “absorbed through coercive legal and administrative pressure” and were subsequently treated as “compliant dependencies.”

The statement also referenced the long-standing issue of Sabah’s 40 per cent net revenue entitlement, claiming that federal administrations — including during periods led by Pakatan Harapan, had failed to restore the state’s constitutional rights.

It said Ewon’s refusal to continue participating in what it described as a “dilution or deferral” of Sabah’s claims contributed to his decision to step down as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives.

“Ewon did what any leader of integrity should do: he stood up, he spoke out, and he walked away,” the statement said, characterising his resignation as an act of “real courage” in challenging federal attitudes perceived as dismissive.

The document further criticised recent remarks by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding the state’s revenue entitlement, calling them “absurd” and arguing that Sabah’s demands have long been constrained by a federal system where “Malaya alone controls the purse and the power.”

It went on to describe the federation’s current financial structure as “colonial rule,” asserting that Sabah and Sarawak had been expected to remain “compliant, grateful and silent” while their rights were debated or deferred.

The statement concluded by framing Ewon’s action as a turning point that signalled broader dissatisfaction in the Bornean states.

“Ewon’s decision marks a line in the sand,” it said. “Sabahans and Sarawakians are no longer prepared to remain subjugated.”

There has been no immediate response from Anthony Loke or federal leaders to the latest claims.