KOTA KINABALU, Oct 21 — Datuk Wetrom Bahanda — the former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) assistant minister who quit the party mere weeks before the election — is expected to be contesting the Kota Marudu seat, on a Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM) ticket.
PKDM president Datuk Peter Anthony said that Wetrom’s own political goals were in line with the party’s struggle, and he was a good addition to the party line-up.
Addressing the media for the first time, Bandau assemblyman Wetrom said that he left Bersatu in line with the aspirations of Kota Marudu and although his initial plan was to join Parti Warisan, a closer look showed that PKDM’s struggle was better fit.
“I left Bersatu based on the current situation in Kota Marudu and hearing the people’s aspirations,” he told reporters after attending a PKDM event at the Hakka Hall here.
“In the beginning, I was to join, as you all know, but after listening to the grassroots and the people of Kota Marudu, it turns out that PKDM is more suitable to our needs, so I chose the PKDM to fight with,” he said.
Wetrom made a shock announcement last week that he was quitting the ruling coalition to contest the Kota Marudu seat and was seen with Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal at first.
But after a lukewarm response from the latter, Wetrom was then photographed with PKDM president Datuk Peter Anthony and filling in what is believed to be a membership form.
Wetrom, who was Bersatu division chief for Kota Marudu, confirmed he submitted his resignation from the party, and informed chief minister and Sabah Bersatu chaiman Datuk Hajiji Noor of his move.
“I’ve resigned from Bersatu. As for the assistant minister post, I have told the CM, but it is his prerogative what happens to my post,” he said.
His announcement tonight is the first time Wetrom has clarified his stand in an official statement.
Meanwhile, Peter is holding back the number of seats the fledgling party intends to contest, only disclosing that he will reveal them over time.
Earlier, it was announced that Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Datuk Winston Liaw Kit Siong will be contesting the Kota Kinabalu seat on a PKDM ticket.
Along with Kota Kinabalu and Kota Marudu, Peter himself is expected to contest the Tenom seat while his deputy Datuk Juil Nuatim is expected to contest in Papar.
PKDM, is a splinter party from Warisan, where Peter was vice-president before he quit to form his own party in February this year.
He has declared the party to be government-friendly and has applied to join the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah coalition although the application is still pending.
When asked if it was contradictory that the party was contesting against GRS, Peter said that the party was still independent and on its own as it has not been accepted to the ruling state coalition.
“We are still GRS-friendly as I said, and we are still supporting the chief minister.
“But this is a general election, and we are talking about electing a federal government,” he said.
