Judge me in 2 years, Sabah PH chief Ewon tells state PKR

 

Sabah PH chief Ewon Benedick said there will be a vote in two years’ time, if anyone is unhappy over his leadership.

PETALING JAYA: 

Upko president Ewon Benedick has brushed off state PKR leaders disputing his election as the Sabah Pakatan Harapan chairman, saying they can evaluate his performance at the end of his two-year tenure.

Ewon said his priority is to carry out his responsibilities as Sabah PH chief, especially with the state assembly elections due to be held next year, rather than be concerned with the post itself.

“Many leaders have commented on the matter so I don’t want to add to it. I want to move on and carry out my mandate to the best of my ability,” he said, Utusan Borneo reported.

“If there are some that are still unhappy with it, in two years’ time it will be put to a vote again, that would be the best time for them to evaluate my leadership,” he was quoted as saying.

On Dec 25, a Sabah PKR leader was reported as saying that the state PH chairmanship rightfully belonged to PKR, citing a formula that had been agreed and adhered to by its components.

The PKR leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the post should have never been contested in the first place, adding that the election held earlier this month was the first time a poll was held since Sabah PH was formed in 2017.

The leader said that traditionally, Sabah PH partners, PKR, DAP, Upko and Amanah, would name a PKR leader to chair the state coalition.

Christina Liew was ousted as Sabah PH chairman, a post she had held since 2017, after losing to Ewon by three votes on Dec 1.

Two weeks later, Liew said discussions were being held on her possible return as Sabah PH chairman, adding that talks were held with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and members of the state leadership council.

Sabah DAP chief Phoong Jin Zhe however defended Ewon’s election to the post and denied that there was a rule stipulating that the state PH chairmanship must be held by PKR. - FMT