KOTA KINABALU, Aug 56— UPKO Youth Chief candidate No. 1, Felix Joseph Saang, has unveiled a leadership agenda centred on the Sabah First principle, youth economic empowerment, grassroots organisational strengthening and the promotion of integrity-driven politics ahead of the party’s Youth Movement election as reported by Borneo Digest.

Campaigning under the slogan “Progressive, Integrity, Principles,” Felix said the UPKO Youth Movement must evolve beyond its traditional role as an election machinery and become a driving force for policy development, youth empowerment and community service that delivers meaningful benefits to the people of Sabah.

He said the Sabah First agenda would remain the cornerstone of his leadership, including advocating for the full implementation of Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), the state’s constitutional entitlement to 40 per cent of the net revenue collected by the Federal Government from Sabah, and other rights enshrined in the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement.

“Sabah First is more than a political slogan. It is a commitment to ensuring that Sabah’s rights, interests and future remain the top priority in every policy and political decision we pursue,” Felix said.

He added that the Youth Movement should serve as a strong voice in defending Sabah’s rights while acting as a strategic partner to the party leadership in advancing the interests of the state’s people.

On economic development, Felix said he aims to position the Youth Movement as a bridge connecting young entrepreneurs with government opportunities, particularly through collaboration with the Sabah Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship (MINDET), which is led by the UPKO president.

“Youth should not wait for opportunities—we must create access to them. Our role is to connect young people with training, financing, enterprise development and entrepreneurial networks so that more Sabah youths can build sustainable businesses and strengthen their own economic future,” he said.

He noted that empowering young entrepreneurs would not only improve individual livelihoods but also strengthen local communities and generate new employment opportunities across Sabah.

Felix also stressed that integrity and principled leadership must remain the defining identity of UPKO.

“We may have different opinions, but we cannot compromise our integrity. A political party’s strength depends on the trust of the people, and that trust can only be earned through principled leadership, transparency and consistency,” he said.

He pledged to further strengthen UPKO’s image as a progressive, clean and credible political party while expanding leadership development, organisational capacity-building and community engagement programmes for Youth divisions throughout Sabah.

According to Felix, every divisional Youth wing should be active, well-organised and closely connected with local communities to ensure the party remains relevant at the grassroots level.

“Youth leaders must stand with the people, not only during elections or party contests. We must listen, serve and help solve community issues. The best politics is politics that delivers real benefits to the people,” he said.

He added that community service should become the hallmark of the UPKO Youth Movement through continuous welfare initiatives, volunteerism, youth development programmes and grassroots outreach across every division.

Observers view Felix’s emphasis on the three key pillars—Sabah First, youth economic empowerment and political integrity—as reflecting an effort to steer the UPKO Youth Movement towards a more policy-oriented and community-focused approach.

The UPKO Youth Movement election is expected to shape the party’s next generation of leaders as UPKO continues to strengthen its Sabah development agenda and expand its role in championing the state’s interests and the well-being of its people.

With the campaign theme “Progressive, Integrity, Principles,” Felix said he hopes to earn delegates’ confidence to lead the UPKO Youth Movement as a platform that not only represents the aspirations of Sabah’s younger generation but also serves as a catalyst for a more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable future for the state.

Full credit to Borneo Digest