Verdon serius pertimbang sertai BN, bukan buru tiket PRU16

Verdon Bahanda, the Kudat Parliament representative, has expressed serious consideration towards joining the Barisan Nasional (BN), but has clarified that this decision is not made due to hoping for a chance to become a candidate for PRU16. The discussions on this matter are still at an early stage, and any decision can only be made after the Parliament is dissolved due to his continued attachment to the anti-split party laws.

Verdon's remarks during the Rungus Cultural Festival in Kudat on Saturday night were merely an expression of gratitude to BN President Zahid Hamidi and BN Sabah President Arthur Kurup for their support as a free people's representative. He stated that his cooperation is more focused on supporting and electing the party's candidate to bring better development to Kudat Parliament for the PRU16 if he does not contest again at that time, which he conveyed to FMT.

Verdon mentioned his desire not to contest in the next general election to Anwar Ibrahim during Prime Minister Anwar's visit to Banggi Island in May. During the BN program in Kudat, Zahid and his brother Wetrom, also a Kedah Parliament representative, displayed their continued support for the BN with blue noses since the beginning.

This speculation has led to speculation that the two brothers would join the BN through the Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) led by Arthur. Verdon won the Kudat Parliament seat in PRU15 with a margin of 1,967 votes in a five-seat contest, but lost his DUN Tanjong Kapor seat in the 2018 Sabah general election. Wetrom won the Kota Marudu seat in PRU15 with a ticket from the People's Progress Association (KDM) with a margin of 8,174 votes, defeating Maximus Ongkili, who was then the president of the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS).

However, like Verdon, Wetrom lost his Matunggong seat to PBS Secretary-General Julita Majungki, who won with a margin of 334 votes.