KOTA KINABALU: Approaching its third anniversary in March, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM), one of Sabah’s newest multicultural parties, will contest the upcoming state election independently.
KDM president, Datuk Peter Anthony also confirmed that no collaborations or discussions have been held with other political parties, adding that KDM is confident in its own strength.
“KDM will contest based on our own strength,” he said during the launch of the party’s election machinery for Sindumin and Lumadan on Saturday (Feb 22).
Joined by his deputy, Datuk Wetrom Bahanda, who is also the Kota Marudu MP and Bandau assemblyman, Anthony hinted at plans to field candidates in 45 of Sabah’s 73 state seats.
The party has also outlined nine key manifestos ahead of the 17th state election, expected by September this year, focusing on safeguarding Sabah’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“We also want to promote local governance similar to Sarawak’s model,” Anthony added.
Apart from Wetrom, KDM holds one parliamentary and one state seat, namely Tenom MP Riduan Rubin and Anthony himself as the Melalap assemblyman.
The 53-year-old former state Infrastructure Development Minister is currently embroiled in a legal battle over the falsification of documents related to a maintenance and service contract at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
On May 26, 2022, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court found him guilty of forgery, sentencing him to three years in jail and a RM50,000 fine.
He filed an appeal at the High Court on April 18, 2023.
On August 1, 2024, the Court of Appeal concluded hearings on his final appeal but deferred its decision.
The verdict was postponed again on November 27, 2024, and for a third time on February 7 this year.
