UPKO wants to contest more seats in upcoming state polls

KOTA KINABALU: United Progressive Kinabalu Organization (UPKO) intends to contest in several constituencies, apart from the stronghold of the Kadamaian state constituency in the upcoming state election.

Its president, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said that he has conveyed this intention to the Sabah Chief Minister and the Prime Minister.

“UPKO must contest not only in the Kadamaian area that we currently hold but also in several other constituencies. This is crucial so that UPKO, as a party that aims to contribute more effectively to the governance of the country, should be given a significant presence at the federal and state levels, starting with more seats in the coming elections,” he said.

Ewon said this to reporters after officiating the UPKO Convention at the Lundayeh Cultural Center in Sipitang on Saturday.

The Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister also opined that in the coming state election, there will no longer be alliances like those formed in 2020.

“The situation has changed significantly and there should be new discussions on the distribution of seats for political cooperation during the elections. For me and UPKO, the discussions should be something fresh and new when we talk about cooperation in the upcoming Sabah state elections,” he said.

Ewon disclosed that the party has identified several seats it wants to contest in and UPKO is confident of being victorious in these constituencies, especially in areas with a majority of Kadazandusun and Murut voters and mixed seats.