KOTA KINABALU: The politically influential Bahanda siblings of Sabah’s northern Kota Marudu and Kudat are set to realign their political directions with the coming general election.
Kota Marudu Member of Parliament Datuk Wetrom, who is currently deputy president of Parti KDM and his younger sibling Datuk Verdon, the independent Kudat MP, are widely speculated to make a move to Barisan Nasional once Parliament dissolves.
The two brothers are widely expected to join Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), led by Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup, who is Sabah Barisan chairman.
However, both brothers, who are seen working independently of each other, are not denying nor confirming their widely speculated move back into Barisan to defend their seats under the national coalition.
“Wait for dissolution (of Parliament), then you will know,” was Wetrom’s brief reply when asked if he was planning to join a Barisan party.
His younger brother was more forthcoming, replying that he was in discussion with Sabah Barisan and nothing was finalised.
“Nothing decided for now,” Verdon said when asked if he was looking at joining PBRS or Umno.
Weighing in on the political chatter that the two brothers will be joining a Barisan party in Sabah, Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that there was an ongoing discussion between Barisan and them.
“Both brothers have always been ‘blue' in their hearts. I will entrust the Sabah Barisan to negotiate before being brought to the supreme council,” the Deputy Prime Minister said last weekend (Aug 8) when launching the Rungus Cultural Festival organised by the Malaysian Momogun Rungus Association at the Matunggong hall in Kudat.
Zahid was invited to launch the cultural festival by the association headed by Wetrom.
The two brothers were previously with Umno before leaving for other parties with the fall of the Barisan federal government in 2018.
In the 2025 state election, Wetrom failed in his bid to unseat PBS secretary general Datuk Julita Mojungki for the Matunggong seat. Wetrom was the incumbent Bandau assemblyman but moved to Matunggong to challenge Julita in a six-corner fight.
Verdon unsuccessfully contested for the Tanjong Kapur state seat in Kudat, where he lost against Gabungan Rakyat Sabah’s incumbent Datuk Chong Chen Bin in an 11-corner contest.
