PETALING JAYA: A Cabinet minister from Sabah, Ewon Benedick, has proposed that a consensus group be formed by all federal ministers and deputy ministers from Sabah to champion the rights of the people of the state.
He said regular meetings of the loose grouping would help realise the aims of the unity government, especially those involving the interests of Sabahans, Bernama reported.
Ewon, who is entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister, said he had made the suggestion to Sabah and Sarawak affairs minister Armizan Ali.
“We will discuss the best approach to uphold the rights of Sabah under the unity government’s leadership,” he told reporters.
Ewon, who is Penampang MP, said the cooperation was not only to bring about development and progress to the state but also to claim the rights of Sabah as provided in the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
“I think this is the right thing to do. A consensus group that is consistent in discussing the rights of Sabah to be taken up for action by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.
Ewon expressed his thanks to Anwar for the appointment of seven deputy ministers from Sabah.
“We’ve never had this many in the previous administrations. So even though I hope to see more ministers and deputy ministers from the state, what is important is that the appointment has been made, and it is time for us to work hard for the people of Sabah,” he added.
Out of the seven deputy ministers from Sabah, three are from Barisan Nasional, two from Pakatan Harapan and one each from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Warisan.
Ewon is the incoming president of Upko, a component party of Pakatan Harapan, while Armizan is with Sabah Bersatu and GRS.
— EDITOR
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