Kota Kinabalu: Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (PKAN) asserted that United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) betrayed the interests of Sabahans to serve Putrajaya by pulling out of the 40pc tax revenue case.
The party claims Upko now acts as an agent of Federal power, undermining Sabah’s constitutional and demographic rights.
The party’s statement focuses on Upko’s handling of the 40pc Federal Revenue claim and its silence on the non-citizen crisis as key indicators that the party has abandoned its local mandate in favor of Federal political gains.
“Upko’s talk of using its own logo in elections is merely a cosmetic deception,” said party women chief Priskila Akwila Sinem.
Also Chief Coordinator for Kota Belud, she said: “It’s a superficial attempt to project a ‘Sabah spirit,’ while their leaders actively promote Federal interests.
“Under the Pakatan Harapan banner, Upko’s true agenda is to weaken Sabah’s pursuit of its 40pc revenue entitlement—a constitutional right, not a gift.”PKAN argues that the most glaring evidence of Upko’s compromise is the withdrawal of the legal suit against the Federal Government regarding the 40pc claim.
“Voters recall Upko President Datuk Ewon Benedick’s pledge not to withdraw that suit.
“However, upon becoming a Federal Minister, he led PH Sabah to abruptly drop the legal action. This timing is no coincidence—it’s a clear trade-off: a Ministerial position and inclusion in Federal committees in exchange for abandoning Sabah’s fundamental constitutional right.
The ‘positive progress’ argument is political theater; real progress comes from actions and results, not endless committee discussions.”The party in a statement also said it criticised Upko for its failure to address Sabah’s pressing demographic challenge.
“While Upko leaders promote Federal portfolios like the cooperative movement, they ignore a far more dangerous issue: the presence of over a million non-citizens in our state,” the statement said adding “A party once vocal about resolving this crisis is now conspicuously silent.
“Their priority has clearly shifted to national duties, neglecting the long-term demographic and security issues threatening Sabahans’ identity and future.”Hence, the party now is calling on the people of Sabah to recognize Upko’s changed priorities.
“The Prime Minister’s rejection of the 40pc formula was a pivotal moment, and Upko’s response has been inadequate and compromised. They cannot be trusted to fight for Sabah’s rights while being an integral part of the Federal establishment they should be challenging,” the statement concluded.