KOTA KINABALU, Oct 17 — Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has confirmed the exit of assistant state minister Datuk Wetrom Bahanda from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), which is a member of the state ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.

Hajiji, who is also GRS chairman and Sabah Bersatu chief, implied that Wetrom’s move could be a political maneuver that could backfire against the latter in the 15th general election.

"As the leader of Bersatu Sabah, I would like to make it clear that even though the head of Kota Marudu Bersatu has ditched the party, I assure that Bersatu is here to stay in Kota Marudu. We will continue to support GRS candidate Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili,” Hajiji told a press conference in Kota Marudu yesterday.

He played down the effect of Wetrom’s departure from Bersatu as the party’s Kota Marudu division leader, saying GRS will fully back Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Ongkili to defend the parliamentary seat in GE15.

GRS deputy chairman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun told Utusan Malaysia today that the coalition had expected Wetrom to leave Bersatu soon as the Bandau assemblyman had been keen to contest in the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat, which had been promised to PBS.

"It’s true and was expected.

"He wants to contest the Kota Marudu seat against Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili,” Masidi was quoted saying in an Utusan Malaysia report today.

Last night, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said that Wetrom had "more or less” joined Warisan, but stopped short of saying that the latter would be contesting the Kota Marudu seat on a Warisan ticket.

"I told him to enjoy it first and let me look at the list of potential candidates first to see who is most suitable. I am being meticulous and thorough. I want to see who is capable, and not just selecting guys because he is joining us.

"If he is a winnable candidate, I can consider, but we see how is it,” he said in a statement.

Wetrom yesterday also joined Shafie after a walkabout along the popular Gaya street Sunday market.

On Saturday, a video of Wetrom announcing his intention to contest the Kota Marudu seat on a Warisan ticket was being spread on social media, followed by photos of him making a "W” with his fingers — the Warisan symbol.