PAPAR: Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) has denied any connection with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ahead of the coming 17th State General Election (17th GE), insisting that the party will contest independently.
Its Deputy President, Datuk Wetrom Bahanda, said the move reflects the stand of both the party leadership and grassroots members.
“I strongly deny that KDM has any link with GRS. We were also previously linked with Warisan, but the truth is KDM will go solo in 17th GE. It’s disappointing to be associated with parties we’ve never even met,” he said at the KDM Limbahau Santai Gathering here, recently.
However, Wetrom said KDM remains open to working with other local parties after the polls if it fails to form the State Government.
“This is the party’s decision, if KDM does not succeed after 17th GE, we will consider cooperating with any suitable local party that shares our aspirations,” he said.
On the possibility of partnering national parties, Wetrom said such cooperation could be considered if local parties fail to secure enough seats.
“Our intention is not to oppose the Federal Government, we are part of the Unity Government. But our priority remains local parties, to ensure Sabah has a stronger voice and mandate at the State level,” he said.
Asked about his decision to vacate the Bandau seat to contest in Matunggong, Wetrom said the constituency is his hometown.
He recalled that during 14th GE, his name was proposed as a BN candidate but rejected by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) under a “status quo” seat arrangement.
The same happened in 16th GE, forcing him to contest in Bandau, where he won under the Bersatu ticket with a 3,363-vote majority.
“Matunggong is my hometown where I grew up and still live. During 16th GE, since PBS contested there, I had to move to Bandau. Now that the opportunity has come, I can finally contest in Matunggong under KDM,” he said.
Wetrom also dismissed speculation that he vacated Bandau to pave the way for his sister, Datuk Redonah Bahanda, the Women’s Chief of PGRS Central, to contest under the GRS banner.
“She (Redonah) is in PGRS, so it’s up to the GRS Chairman to decide her candidacy. It’s not my role. The same goes for my brother, the Kudat MP Datuk Verdon Bahanda, who is Independent.
“For the record, KDM will field candidates in Matunggong, Bandau, and Tandek under the Kota Marudu parliamentary area. Therefore, there’s no issue of family compromise,” he said.
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