Upko president Ewon Benedick is concerned that Sabah could lose leverage if voters install local leaders from national parties who, he said, depend on “a party president across the sea”.

The Penampang MP said a state government aligned to parties headquartered in Peninsular Malaysia may face conflicting instructions when negotiating Sabah’s 40 percent revenue entitlement with Putrajaya.

Ewon, who recently resigned from the federal cabinet...