THE resignation of Datuk Ewon Benedick as Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, as well as the decision by his party, the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO), to leave Pakatan Harapan (PH), has been described as a normal part of political change by PH Secretary-General Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Speaking at a press conference at the Langkawi District Police Headquarters today, Saifuddin, who also serves as Home Minister, said the move would not affect the stability or position of the federal government.
“It does not affect us at all. That is the nature of politics — a political dynamic. Some choose to stay with us, and some choose otherwise. That is what we call political dynamics,” he said.
On Monday, Ewon, who also serves as UPKO President, announced his immediate resignation from the federal Cabinet. He said the decision was made to allow him to focus on political matters in Sabah and to strengthen UPKO’s position as a local party ahead of the state election expected within the next two weeks.
In a separate announcement, UPKO Secretary-General Datuk Nelson W Angang confirmed the party’s withdrawal from Pakatan Harapan, effective immediately, following a special meeting of the party’s Supreme Council.
The decision was officially communicated to Prime Minister and PH Chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, as well as the coalition’s component parties.
Ewon’s resignation was said to be driven by principles related to the implementation of Sabah’s constitutional right to 40 per cent of federal revenue, as outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution.
Langkawi - ‘An Open Point’ for Rohingyas
Meanwhile, at the same press conference, Saifuddin also addressed the growing issue of undocumented Rohingya migrants entering Malaysian waters via Langkawi.
He revealed that a total of 2,300 undocumented Rohingya migrants had been detected arriving through Langkawi over the past five years, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
“From 2010 to 2025, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) recorded 2,300 Rohingya nationals entering Malaysia illegally via Langkawi. This shows that Langkawi is a popular landing area for such groups,” he said.
Saifuddin noted that Langkawi’s strategic location near the Thai border made it a key entry point for human smuggling networks.
Commenting on the recent boat tragedy involving undocumented migrants near the Malaysia-Thailand maritime border, Saifuddin said the Malaysian authorities were treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
“The search and rescue (SAR) operation involves 177 personnel using both aerial and maritime assets. So far, 34 victims have been accounted for — 14 rescued and 20 confirmed dead,” he said, adding that Thai authorities had since discovered seven additional bodies in their waters.
He confirmed that Malaysian police are conducting a comprehensive investigation to identify the cause and those responsible for organising the smuggling operation.
“The investigation covers where they came from, how they travelled, when they arrived and the estimated number of passengers on board. The human trafficking element is also being examined, and once all information is gathered, appropriate action will be taken,” he said. - November 12, 2025
