KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to address the resignation of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick soon, though he did not elaborate on the matter during his public appearances earlier today.
At two events in Sabah on Sunday morning—at Tamu Jalan Gaya and the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC)—Anwar’s comments on the resignation were highly anticipated, but no statement was made.
However, when asked by reporters after attending the Rancakkan Madani Sabah programme at the SICC in Kota Kinabalu today, Anwar indicated he would respond in due course.
“I will, I will…” he said briefly, as he walked past the group of journalists.
Ewon Benedick’s resignation was reportedly based on his stance concerning the implementation of the 40 per cent revenue entitlement for Sabah, as outlined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and the Federal Constitution. The decision followed a written ruling by High Court Judge Celestina Stuel Galid, part of a judicial review filed by the Sabah Law Society (SLS).
Meanwhile, Anwar reiterated that resolving issues within the MA63 framework should be approached through rational discussions and negotiations, rather than confrontation.
“The MADANI government is committed to resolving these issues comprehensively, including through discussions within the Technical Committee of the MA63 Action Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof,” he said during the proramme.
“We are having talks now. Datuk Seri Fadillah leads the technical committee, and we hold meetings to discuss together. If we agree, we implement it; if not, we discuss again and vote. This is how we work together, not to ‘fight’,” he added during his speech at the programme.
Also present at the event were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Communications Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, and more than 2,000 participants, including university students and local community members.
Touching on the issue of the 40 per cent revenue return for Sabah, the Prime Minister urged all parties to first fully understand the matter.
“I was at Jalan Gaya earlier, hearing the outcry about the 40 per cent revenue for Sabah. Listen first, understand it first. Yes, it is contained in MA63, but three years ago, since the MADANI government took office, we have already discussed it,” he said. – November 9, 2025