Kudat MP ‘seriously considering’ BN offer, says GE16 candidacy not his goal

Verdon Bahanda, the incumbent MP for the Kudat parliamentary seat, has expressed that he is contemplating joining Barisan Nasional (BN) but insists that the decision is not driven by ambitions to be nominated as a candidate in the upcoming 16th general election (GE16). He stated that the matter is still under consideration and a decision can only be finalized after the Parliament is dissolved, as he is subject to the anti-party hopping law.

Verdon's address at the Rungus Cultural Carnival in Kudat last Saturday was merely a gesture of gratitude to BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sabah BN chief Arthur Joseph Kurup for their support during his tenure as an independent MP. He highlighted that he is not aiming for a GE16 candidacy and that his potential cooperation with BN is aimed at aiding their candidate to secure victory and bring better development to the Kudat constituency.

Verdon informed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim about his intention to abstain from the forthcoming election when Anwar paid a visit to Pulau Banggi in May. At the Kudat event, Zahid alluded to Verdon and his brother Wetrom, the Kota Marudu MP, implying their inclination towards BN, stating that their hearts have long been inclined towards the party.

This remark sparked speculation that the brothers might join BN through Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), which Kurup leads. Verdon had won the Kudat seat in GE15 with a 1,967-vote majority in a five-cornered race. He, however, lost the Tanjong Kapor state seat during the Sabah election in November last year. At that time, he was spearheading a movement called Gelombang Hitam, a coalition of independent candidates.

Wetrom, on the other hand, secured the Kota Marudu seat on a Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) ticket in GE15, garnering an 8,174-vote majority. He defeated incumbent Maximus Ongkili, who was then PBS president. However, like his brother, Wetrom also lost in the Sabah state election, losing the Matunggong seat to PBS secretary-general Julita Majungki, who won by a 334-vote margin.