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

Verdon Bahanda, the incumbent Member of Parliament for Kudat, has expressed his serious consideration of joining the Barisan Nasional (BN) party, though he clarifies that this decision is not driven by aspirations for a 16th general election (GE16) seat. The Malaysian politician, who secured a substantial lead of 1,967 votes in the 2023 GE15 polls, emphasized that his current deliberations are under wraps, and a final choice can only be made post-Parliament dissolution due to the anti-party-hopping law.

During a recent speech at Kudat's Rungus Cultural Carnival, organized by the Momogun Rungus Association, Verdon Bahanda praised BN leaders Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Arthur Joseph Kurup for their backing. He clarified that his words were merely expressions of gratitude, not a declaration of intentions to contest in the upcoming GE16.

During a recent visit to Pulau Banggi, Verdon Bahanda informed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of his plans to abstain from the next election if it is decided that he will not be a candidate at that time.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reportedly hinted to Verdon Bahanda and his brother Wetrom, who is the Kota Marudu MP, about joining BN, suggesting that both have long-standing ties to the party. This has fueled speculation that the brothers might affiliate with BN through the Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), currently led by Kurup.

The discussion gained traction after Zahid hinted at the brothers' potential move, which Verdon Bahanda addressed, affirming that he remains committed to supporting BN's candidate in GE16 if he decides not to contest the election.

Verdon Bahanda's political journey is marked by his previous victory in the Kudat constituency, where he secured a significant lead as an independent candidate in GE15. In contrast, he lost the Tanjong Kapor state seat in the Sabah election last November. In addition to his political endeavors, Verdon Bahanda has been associated with Gelombang Hitam, a coalition of independent candidates.

Meanwhile, his brother Wetrom was elected as Kota Marudu MP on a Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) ticket in GE15, but ultimately lost the state election. Wetrom, like his brother, competed against Maximus Ongkili, who was then the president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), and lost to PBS secretary-general Julita Majungki.