KOTA KINABALU – Datuk Peter Anthony, the Warisan vice-president facing corruption charges, has called for a press conference tomorrow where sources claim the troubled politician will likely announce his new political direction.
A Warisan source speaking on condition of anonymity told The Vibes that Anthony would likely leave Warisan to form a new political party based on his non-government organisation – Pertubuhan Kadazan Dusun Murut Malaysia (KDM Malaysia).
The Melalap assemblyman is expected to announce his departure from Warisan, with the name of the new party yet to be known.
Checks on Anthony’s official Facebook account indicated that he no longer identifies himself as Warisan’s vice-president, but instead as the president of KDM Malaysia.
The source also claimed that Limbahau assemblyman Datuk Juil Nuatim will follow suit and leave Warisan, as he is also one of the top leaders in KDM Malaysia.
Meanwhile, another source, who is a member of KDM Malaysia, denied that Anthony will leave Warisan, saying that he would probably talk about his corruption charges at the press conference tomorrow.
In July last year, Anthony was charged as the managing director of Asli Jati Engineering Sdn Bhd for falsifying a document.
The document was in regards to a purported collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah to fund and set up a mechanical and engineering technical training centre via direct negotiation in July 2014.
“We were not told about whether he would be leaving Warisan. But we were told by KDM Malaysia vice-president Datuk Juil Nuatim that a meeting would be held at the KDM Malaysia office in Papar tomorrow.
“The meeting will perhaps be about the things Anthony will say to the media tomorrow,” he said.
Apart from an official invitation to the press conference set at 12.30pm at Kota Kinabalu International Airport tomorrow, another invitation has gone viral on WhatsApp that claims the press conference will see Anthony announce his departure from Warisan and formation of a new party friendly to the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state government.
Anthony and Warisan secretary-general Datuk Loretto Padua could not be reached at the point of writing.
Three Warisan reps have left the party for the ruling camp this year, including Sebatik assemblyman Hassan A. Gani on February 25, Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Yusof Yacob on October 3, and Segama assemblyman Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, who joined Bersatu on November 26.
Currently, Warisan has seven MPs and 19 assemblymen. – The Vibes, December 27, 2021
