KOTA KINABALU: Independent Kudat Member of Parliament Datuk Verdon Bahanda would never betray the mandate entrusted to them by the people.
Verdon said his role as an independent representative within the government bloc required him to maintain good relations with all political parties while remaining firm in defending Sabah's rights.
He said this included maintaining ties with national leaders who visited their constituencies or were involved in matters related to his responsibilities as an MP and his role in community organisations.
“Deputy Prime Ministers, whether Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof or Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, have acknowledged that we are in the government bloc.
“Recently, I was given the mandate to become the organising chairman of the Rungus Cultural Festival, and the association invited Datuk Seri Zahid. In his speech, he expressed his desire to cooperate in the coming general election, but everything is still under consideration and nothing has been decided,” he said in his Facebook post.
Verdon said his priority was to determine which political arrangement could bring greater development to the constituencies he and his brother represented.
“For me, the most important thing is which side can bring development to our areas. That is what matters,” he said.
He said Sabah's political parties were also working with national parties while forming the state government, and there was no reason for him, as an independent MP within the government bloc, to sever ties with any side.
However, Verdon stressed that cooperation did not mean blindly following the wishes of the federal government, particularly on matters involving Sabah's rights.
“My brother (Datuk Wetrom Bahanda of Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat MP for Kota Marudu) and I have always been clear that we are fighting for Sabah's rights,” he said.
Responding to accusations that he and Wetrom had betrayed the people's mandate or were promoting Malayan interests, Verdon said such allegations were unfounded.
“Even if I am foolish, my brother and I would never betray the mandate given by the people. The accusations that we have betrayed the people's mandate or want to promote Malayan interests should be put aside.
“Do not accuse my brother and me as if we want to sell Sabah. At the very least, we are defending Sabah's rights and the rights of our people.
“My brother and I have never done, and will never do, what previous leaders did when they signed the Petronas agreement that gave Sabah only a five per cent return,” he said.
Verdon said he and Wetrom would continue to prioritise development in their constituencies, which he described as among the poorest areas in Malaysia.
“Our struggle, regardless of which platform we are on, will not deviate from our responsibility to the people and Sabah.
“We want to bring greater development to the areas we represent, especially since they are among the poorest in Malaysia, while at the same time defending Sabah's rights,” he said.
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