Upko set for first supreme council meeting with GRS

Kota Kinabalu - The United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) anticipates its inaugural supreme council meeting with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition. Party chief Datuk Ewon Benedick stated that Upko's initial focus will be on finalizing its ongoing congress before deliberating on seat distribution. The matter remains uncertain at present, with Upko pledging to notify their GRS counterparts of their interest in contesting Penampang and Tuaran parliamentary seats.

Notably, Ewon and Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau previously represented these constituencies under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) banner in the 2022 election. Upko parted ways with PH last year before the Sabah General Election in November and joined GRS on June 18, becoming their sixth component. Currently, GRS holds seven parliamentary representatives in Sabah, alongside Barisan Nasional's seven seats.

Ewon hinted at the possibility of seat swaps in upcoming polls, drawing a historical parallel to Kadamaian, a historically swapped constituency between Kadamaian and Bingkor.