Sabah CM’s aide joins Warisan

 

First-term assemblyman Wetrom Bahanda is an assistant minister to the Sabah chief minister.

KOTA KINABALU: A Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) assemblyman has crossed over to Warisan, in a first-ever defection from the ruling coalition in Sabah.

First-term assemblyman Wetrom Bahanda, who contested the new seat of Bandau in the 2020 state polls, told a function in Matunggong that he was leaving Bersatu for Warisan.

This was confirmed by Jominit Kobuhi, a Warisan coordinator for the Matunggong KDM affairs task force.

Wetrom, who is an assistant minister to the Sabah chief minister, won with a 3,363-vote majority in the 2020 state polls, defeating candidates from Warisan, the United Sabah National Organisation, Parti Cinta Sabah, Liberal Democratic Party and an independent.

-ADVERTISEMENT-

Ads by 

Wetrom Bahanda (fourth from right, in orange shirt) with supporters who also joined Warisan.

Jominit said Wetrom hopes to contest the Kota Marudu parliamentary constituency on a Warisan ticket. However, the choice of candidate will be made by the party leadership.

Social media had been abuzz with a photograph of Wetrom making a W gesture with his fingers, a sign typically used by Warisan supporters. He was pictured in a group photograph with other members who are said to have switched parties.

Warisan president Shafie Apdal has refused to comment on Wetrom’s move, as the latter has yet to meet him. “Wait first. When the time is right, I will comment,” he told reporters in Papar. - FMT