Datuk Wetrom Bahanda.
KOTA KINABALU: Bandau assemblyman Datuk Wetrom Bahanda, who was seen approaching Warisan a few days ago, has met another party president over what is likely to be his bid for the Kota Marudu parliament seat.
Overnight pictures of Wetrom’s meeting with Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) president Datuk Peter Anthony have raised fresh speculation that he was now looking at the party.
A picture of Wetrom filling out a KDM membership form has also circulated over social media, but he has yet to officially declare that he has left Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), a member of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Wetrom, who is an assistant minister in Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s GRS-Barisan Nasional government, triggered speculation of his leaving Bersatu when a video of him speaking to supporters saying that he was leaving the party to join Warisan to contest the Kota Marudu seat went viral last weekend.
However, Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, who met him on Sunday, told Wetrom to join the party but did not promise him the Kota Marudu seat, which is being held by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili.
The latest picture emerged late Tuesday night after he apparently met Peter to join the party to contest the Kota Marudu seat, sources said.
A KDM source said Wetrom had applied to join the party but he was not sure how serious he was as Warisan could still remain an option.
Hajiji had told Wetrom that the Kota Marudu seat was allocated by GRS for PBS and he would not be fielded.
Wetrom made overtures to Barisan Nasional’s Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) to join the party but realised that he could not contest on the Barisan ticket as the Kota Marudu seat was allocated to GRS.
Peter, a former Warisan vice-president who formed KDM, is still waiting for GRS to accept his party as a member. His party remains friendly to GRS.
Wetrom is yet to make any official announcement on his latest political position and has not fielded calls from the media.
