Yesterday, the Melalap assemblyman invited the media to a special press conference at 12.30pm tomorrow at Kota Kinabalu International Airport where Peter is expected to make an important announcement about his political future.

Although the purpose of the press conference remains unclear, word is that he will be leaving Warisan to form a new party.

It is also believed that he will first become an independent assemblyman friendly to the state government.

Sources close to Peter declined to comment on the press conference, but said he might be “changing direction”.

Apart from his role as vice-president of Warisan, Peter is also the president of the NGO, Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM) Malaysia.

The talk among political circles is that Peter, the former state infrastructure development minister, will use KDM Malaysia as the basis for the new political platform.

Warisan has already lost three state seats after the departures of Hassan A Gani Pg Amir (Sebatik), Yusof Yacob (Sindumin) and Mohamaddin Ketapi (Segama).

All of them initially became independents aligned to the GRS government, but Hassan and Mohamaddin later joined Bersatu.

Peter is facing charges of using false documents relating to a system maintenance contract seven years ago. He was ordered by the Kuala Lumpur sessions court earlier this month to enter his defence.

Sessions judge Azura Alwi made the order on Dec 14 after finding that the prosecution had succeeded in proving a prima facie case against Peter.

The judge fixed five days for Peter to enter his defence beginning Jan 3. Peter has chosen to testify under oath.