PENAMPANG: United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Ewon Benedick has expressed his readiness to resign from the Federal Cabinet if the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) proceeds with an appeal against the recent High Court ruling affirming Sabah’s constitutional right to a 40 per cent revenue entitlement.
Ewon, who is also the Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister, made the statement during his closing remarks at the Penampang Upko Convention here on Sunday.
The convention earlier passed a resolution urging him to step down from his Cabinet post should the AGC go ahead with the appeal, emphasising the party’s stand to respect the court’s judgment.
Ewon said he will formally present Upko’s position during the next Cabinet meeting on Friday, urging the Federal Government to instruct the AGC not to challenge the ruling made by the Kota Kinabalu High Court on Oct 17.
He stressed that his decision was a matter of principle and Sabah’s rights, adding that if an appeal is filed within 30 days, he will honour the party’s resolution by resigning to defend the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution.