KOTA KINABALU: June 19, 2026 — The United Progressive Kinabalu Party (UPKO) has been officially accepted as a component party of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition, its president Datuk Ewon Benedick announced today.
He expressed his gratitude to GRS chairman, who is also Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, and the GRS Supreme Council for approving the party’s membership application, which was submitted on 29 May.
According to Ewon, UPKO’s entry into GRS returns the party to the fold of Sabah-based local parties, aligning with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which provides for the roles of Sabah, Sarawak and Malaya in the formation of Malaysia.
He stressed that UPKO is committed to contributing to efforts to strengthen GRS in leading and developing Sabah.
At the same time, he called on all Sabahans to rally behind the local coalition of parties in building the future of the state.
