PN candidate confident can bring more development to Bandau
KOTA MARUDU: Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate for the newly introduced Bandau state seat, Datuk Wetrom Bahanda, who had been serving for the people in Kota Marudu and Kudat areas for almost two decades under Umno, is hoping for positive results during polling day on Sept 26.
His background as a businessman, developing education and religious activities in both districts are some factors that he hopes will be translated into votes in the ballot box.
“When I was in the Kota Marudu Umno youth wing, my focus was mainly on the youth development. But when I won Umno chief divisional post, I brought many physical developments in Kota Marudu and Kudat areas.
“Most of the religious centres were transformed into concrete buildings, even the biggest Protestant church in Sabah, located in Matunggong was developed under my initiative.
“I was not even an assemblyman at that time, but RM1 million annual allocation from the Prime Minister’s Department had been spent for the needy community in both districts.
“In the education sector, I also built SMK Pinawantai using the government budget. It has been always close to my heart to develop our education, because I know the struggle of our people in obtaining proper education,” he said.
Wetrom, who hails from Kampung Indarason Laut, Kudat, said he had experienced walking from his village to SMK Abdul Rahim located at the city, and it was always his dream to build a school near his village.
“When I was a small boy, the children from our village needed to wake up early in the morning before dawn. We always arrived at school late, every single day.
“When I had the opportunity in business, I proposed a school in my area and successfully built a school in Matunggong,” he said.
Wetrom, who holds Bachelor of Science Human Resource Development from Universiti Putra Malaysia, also proud to be part of the development on SK Samparita in Tandek sub-district.
The primary school, he said, was built with the same quality as the secondary school – another achievement that he is personally proud of.
“For almost two decades serving behind the scene, I had been developing our schools and religious activities.
“Apart from that, the annual budget from the federal government that was allocated in our area was distributed to help our community by giving them assistance for fishing and agricultural activities among others,” he said.
Wetrom started his journey in politics right after Umno entered Sabah in 1990, but he was not a member of the party until he joined officially in 2001.
He was the party’s treasurer until 2004, after he won the youth wing chief post.
In 2008, Wetrom was Kota Marudu Umno’s divisional chief until 2018 where he and the other Umno leaders joined Bersatu after BN had lost in the 14th general election.
“I am now Kota Marudu Bersatu chief and I believe our close relationships with Kuala Lumpur will be another factor that will help us to develop Kota Marudu better.
“If I can bring development to this area without holding the wakil rakyat title, I think I can perform better if I win this seat.
“I will bring more development into the remote areas because this is what we need the most. Some villages that need immediate attention for roads and also electricity are in Magandai and Tagibang.
“Looking at the geographical challenges, if we cannot build grids, installing solar panels is another option for short-term solutions.
“Same thing with water supply, this is another infrastructure that we need to develop,” he said.
With a six-cornered fight in Bandau seat, Wetrom is hoping the rakyat will look at his efforts in implementing many developments in Kota Marudu for almost two decades.
The other contestants vying for Bandau seat are Raphael Biun (LDP), Azahari Amit (Usno), Webley Disim (PCS), Majamis Timbong (Warisan) and Delly Surag Tolok (Independent).