KOTA KINABALU: Bandau assemblyman Datuk Wetrom Bahanda confirmed that he has quit Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia to join Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM).
Wetrom told reporters that he expressed his willingness to run for the Kota Marudu parliamentary seat under the KDM ticket.
"When we discussed at the grassroots and also the people in Kota Marudu, I listened to their wishes. KDM's struggle is more compatible with our struggle.
"That's why I finally choose to be together and fight along with KDM for the people in the state of Sabah," he said at the party dinner at the Hakka Hall here.
Present was KDM president Datuk Peter Anthony.
Wetrom also said he had given official notice to resign as a member of Bersatu and also as an assistant minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah.
Prior to joining KDM, he was seen attending a programme organised by Parti Warisan Sabah in Matunggong, Kudat, sparking speculation that he would be joining the opposition party.
Peter said Wetrom is now the party's deputy president for the Muslim quota.
As for the 15th General Election (GE15), Peter said that his party will face the election solo.
He added that KDM has not received any response to its application to become a partner in Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) despite previously declaring that KDM is friendly to the coalition.
"At the party level we also have a plan. Although they (GRS) do not accept us as a partner, our struggle has to continue.
"We also have to do this because there is no black and white from GRS, so we will go solo in GE15," he said.
Peter also announced Datuk Seri Winston Liaw Kit Siong as the party's candidate for the Kota Kinabalu parliamentary seat, adding that other candidates would be announced in the near future.