Been tried before: Upko chief sceptical at cooperation attempt between Star, PBS

THE LEADER of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) has responded to the proposed cooperation between Sabah Star and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) with scepticism, stating that while it may bode well for the state, such a move is hardly new.

Its president Datuk Ewon Benedick, who is the Penampang MP, made no explanation of what had been similarly initiated in the past.

However, he clearly referred to the “Pisompuruan concept” (unity move), involving parties representing the Kadazan, Dusun, Murut and Rungus (KDMR) communities, which traces back to 2008.

The initiative was aimed to unify all the KDMR-based parties like PBS, Upko and PBRS as a single bloc, but it has never quite met the objective, especially after elections.

"I welcome such an initiative. And in such matters, I hope that both PBS and Sabah Star will achieve their objectives,” said Benedick, the federal entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister.

“The KDMR people are observing. Discussions about unifying such parties have occurred in the past. I pray that such cooperation will become a reality.”

He also expressed hope that Upko could be a part of a “significant unification” in Sabah, particular emphasising on collaboration among KDMR-based parties at both the national and state levels.

Benedick said this to journalists who met him during a Christmas party he hosted in Penampang today.

Also present were Sabah Governor Tun Juhar Mahiruddin and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Benedick was commenting on an unprecedented joint activity – in the form of a Christmas celebration – held by PBS and Sabah Star recently.

The event was part of the parties’ efforts to form a political cooperation ahead of the Sabah state election due in 2025.

Sabah Star had previously hinted at a merger with PBS, but both decided not to see through the idea of a union.

In a joint statement issued on November 16, they revealed that they would only foster and strengthen cooperation.

The two parties are part of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) which rules over the state, while Upko is a component of Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Sabah Star is led by Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan and PBS by Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili. Incidentally, both men are related by blood; Kitingan is Ongkili’s uncle.

Ongkili is understood to have been unwell while PBS deputy president Datuk Joachim Gunsalam was infected by Covid-19 when their Christmas function was held at the KDCA Hall in Penampang yesterday.

The event was also attended by the head of state Juhar.

Interestingly, both Sabah Star and PBS were at loggerheads during the Sabah state election of September 2020.

This was when they crossed each other in some constituencies despite having already been assigned seats to contest on behalf of Perikatan Nasional (PN) which they were earlier supporting.

Revenue entitlement proposal

Meanwhile, Benedick said that he will soon hold a discussion with Hajiji to propose a scheme for the federal government’s repayment to Sabah based on its 40% revenue entitlement.

Notwithstanding that he is in the federal cabinet, he plans to present his proposal to Hajiji since the authority to bring this matter up to Putrajaya is with the state.

“We are proposing separate discussions to be held between Sabah and the federal government on revenue entitlements on matters like direct revenue collection, the arrears unpaid by the federal government since 1974 until present, and indirect revenue sources,” he said.

A decision on the mechanism to implement the repayment is supposed to reached by July next year.

It is also noted that the federal government had decided not to continue Sabah’s 40% revenue entitlement since 1974, opting for a fixed amount of RM26.7 million annually instead.

Under Article 112(C) and Section 2(1) of Part IV of the 10th Schedule of the Federal Constitution, Sabah is entitled to two-fifths or 40% of the federal revenue collection within the state. – The Vibes, December 26, 2023