Ewon Benedick
Ewon Benedick | |
|---|---|
Ewon Benedick in 2023 | |
| Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development | |
| In office 3 December 2022 – 8 November 2025 | |
| Monarchs | Abdullah (2022–2024) Ibrahim Iskandar (2024-2025) |
| Prime Minister | Anwar Ibrahim |
| Deputy | Saraswathy Kandasami (2022–2023) Ramanan Ramakrishnan (2023–2025) |
| Preceded by | Noh Omar |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Nanta Linggi (acting) Steven Sim Chee Keong |
| Constituency | Penampang |
| State Minister of Rural Development of Sabah | |
| In office 16 May 2018 – 29 September 2020 | |
| Governor | Juhar Mahiruddin |
| Chief Minister | Shafie Apdal |
| Assistant | Rasinin Kautis Dumi Pg Masdal |
| Preceded by | Ellron Alfred Angin |
| Succeeded by | Jahid Jahim |
| Constituency | Kadamaian |
| 3rd President of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation | |
| Assumed office 15 January 2023 | |
| Deputy | Donald Peter Mojuntin |
| Preceded by | Wilfred Madius Tangau |
| Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Penampang | |
| Assumed office 19 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Darell Leiking (WARISAN) |
| Majority | 14,410 (2022) |
| Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly for Kadamaian | |
| Assumed office 9 May 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Ukoh Malajad (Independent) |
| Majority | 3,294 (2018) 3,459 (2020) 9,672 (2025) |
| 2nd State Chairman of the Pakatan Harapan of Sabah | |
| Assumed office 1 December 2024 | |
| National Chairman | Anwar Ibrahim |
| Preceded by | Christina Liew Chin Jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ewon Benedick 1 August 1983 |
| Citizenship | Malaysian |
| Party | United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) |
| Other political affiliations | Barisan Nasional (BN) (until 2018) Pakatan Harapan (PH) (2021–2025) |
| Spouse | Connie Parantis |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | SM St. Michael, Penampang Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka |
| Occupation | Politician |
Ewon Benedick (born 1 August 1983) is a Malaysian politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Penampang since 2022 and Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Kadamaian since 2018. A president of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) since 2023, Ewon has also been the Chairman of Pakatan Harapan in Sabah since 2024 until 2025.
He served as Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development under prime minister Anwar Ibrahim from 2022 until his resignation in 2025, and was the State Minister of Rural Development of Sabah under chief minister Shafie Apdal from 2018 to 2020.
Political career
Ewon Benedick made his electoral debut in the 2018 Sabah state election and contested in the state constituency of Kadamaian and managed to regain the seat which had been won by Parti Keadilan Rakyat in the 2013 general election.
Following the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation's (UPKO) decision to quit Barisan Nasional in the aftermath of 2018 general election and align with Parti Warisan Sabah and Pakatan Harapan (PH), Ewon was appointed the State Minister of Rural Development of Sabah. Following the collapse of the Warisan-led government in 2020, a snap election was held, where he defended his seat despite a poor showing by UPKO; he became the party's sole state legislative assemblyman.
In the 2022 general election, Ewon contested against incumbent Darell Leiking in the federal parliamentary seat of Penampang and overturned a 23,473 majority. He was subsequently appointed Minister of Entrepreneur and Co-operatives Development in the Anwar Ibrahim cabinet.
On 14 January 2023, Ewon took over the presidency of United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation.
On 8 November 2025, Ewon announced his resignation from the cabinet over what he described as the Attorney General's Chambers "disregard' for Sabah's entitlement to 40% of federal revenue collected from the state under the constitution. This followed a court ruling which had affirmed that the federal government had been acting unlawfully for the previous 50 years by failing to pay the state the necessary amount.[1]
Political analysts have described Ewon's resignation as a calculated move ahead of the 2025 Sabah state election meant to reaffirm UPKO's image as a party serving Sabahan interests.[2]
Election results
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | N07 Kadamaian | Ewon Benedick (UPKO) | 6,861 | 47.80% | Lukia Indan (PKR) | 3,567 | 24.86% | 14,712 | 3,294 | 72.10% | ||
| Rubbin Guribah (STAR) | 3,034 | 21.14% | ||||||||||
| Mail Balinu (PCS) | 764 | 5.32% | ||||||||||
| Satail Majungkat (PAS) | 129 | 0.88% | ||||||||||
| 2020 | N11 Kadamaian | Ewon Benedick (UPKO) | 6,823 | 51.07% | Demis Rumanti (PBS) | 3,364 | 25.18% | 13,360 | 3,459 | 74.35% | ||
| Duanis Mogirong (PBRS) | 2,050 | 15.34% | ||||||||||
| Joshua Betting Giling (PCS) | 799 | 5.98% | ||||||||||
| Ernest Leduning Lengik (LDP) | 223 | 1.67% | ||||||||||
| Mohd Farhan Raiting (IND) | 101 | 0.76% | ||||||||||
| 2025 | Ewon Benedick (UPKO) | Norman Simon (WARISAN) | ||||||||||
| Mudezam Muyau @ James Muyou (PBS) | ||||||||||||
| Josely Taising (KDM) | ||||||||||||
| Daibi Mandadi (IMPIAN) | ||||||||||||
| Priskilia Akwila Senim (ANAK NEGERI) | ||||||||||||
| Davylandon Rub (STAR) | ||||||||||||
| Judin Tingih (PBM) | ||||||||||||
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | P174 Penampang | Ewon Benedick (UPKO) | 29,066 | 57.30% | Darell Leiking (WARISAN) | 14,656 | 28.89% | 50,730 | 14,410 | 65.70% | ||
| Kenny Chua Teck Ho (STAR) | 6,719 | 13.24% | ||||||||||
| Richard Jimmy (IND) | 289 | 0.57% | ||||||||||
Honours
Honours of Malaysia
- Malaysia
- Recipient of the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Installation Medal (2024)
- Sabah
- Commander of the Order of Kinabalu (PGDK) – Datuk (2018)[6]
- Companion of the Order of Kinabalu (ASDK) (2016)[7]
- Star of the Order of Kinabalu (BK) (2010)[8]
- Justice of the Peace (JP) (2024)[9]
References
- ^ "Malaysian minister Ewon Benedick resigns from Cabinet over Sabah's 40% ruling". CNA. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ Yunus, Arfa (11 November 2025). "A calculated exit from the Cabinet". The Star. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ^ "Sabah [Parliament Results]". The Star. Archived from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
- ^ "14th General Election Malaysia (GE14 / PRU14) – Results Overview". election.thestar.com.my.
- ^ "N02 Tanjong Kapor". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ "Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak head list of 1,158 Sabah award recipients". Bernama. Borneo Post. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Sabah Tahun 2016" (PDF). www.sabah.gov.my.
- ^ "Senarai Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang dan Pingat Sabah Tahun 2010" (PDF). www.sabah.gov.my.
- ^ "Sarawak Premier heads Sabah TYT's Awards list". www.thestar.com.my.