Stephen cared for people living in hardship, says Ewon
KOTA KINABALU : Rural Development minister Datuk Ewon Benedick said he had known Stephen since May 2018.
"We both shared the aspiration to do our best when given the mandate to represent our constituency and for our ministries," he said.
He described Stephen as a person who consistently aired issues that were relevant to his constituency as well as on the management of hospital facilities and clinics throughout Sabah during every state cabinet meetings.
He also constantly discussed the welfare of people living in hardship in Sabah.
"As a minister in charge of the peoples' welfare, he has voiced out the need to raise the rate of assistance given to people living in hardship managed by the Sabah Welfare Services Department to the cabinet and we all agreed. These were among his contributions to the people, " he said.
He said his ministry also prepared assistance to people in hardship through the people's representatives in the government and we have asked him to launch the programme.
He was very happy with the collaboration, said Ewon.
"We shared many ideas on how to help the people after my ministry provided the special touchpoints fund to the elected so they can take part in welfare programmes."
He also said last week during the cabinet meeting, Stephen optimistically spoke on the amendment to the federal constitution to return the original provision of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
Ewon said he only knew Stephen for a short time, but it was meaningful.