MOHD NAIM TO CONTINUE BN’S SERVICE LEGACY IN KINABATANGAN -  AHMAD ZAHID 

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) is hopeful that the legacy of the coalition’s good service to the people of the Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency will be continued by Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar, the son of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Mohd Naim, who is BN’s candidate for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election, is expected to carry on the best service rendered by his late father, who was also Sabah Umno chief, to the people of Kinabatangan.

“What is important for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat is that the continuity of the best service carried out by the late Bung Moktar can be continued by his son, Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar,” he said when asked about BN’s preparations for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections today.

Speaking to the media after attending the 2026 New Year Address Ceremony of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development here, he said BN’s approach is to ensure that its good service continues to be delivered to the people of Sabah, who have just gone through the state election on Nov 29 last year.

On the Lamag by-election, Ahmad Zahid said BN is offering independent candidate Mohd Ismail Ayob, who contested in the last Sabah state election, to become the party’s direct candidate to avoid a split in support among the local community.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said the move was taken as Mohd Ismail, who contested as an independent in the last Sabah state election and lost to the late Bung Moktar by a majority of just 153 votes, is hoped to be able to regain support and unite BN voters to strengthen the party’s chances of victory.

“We hope he will be able to win back his supporters and unite BN voters to secure a victory so that the best service can be delivered,” he said.

The Election Commission has announced Jan 10 as nomination day and Jan 24 as polling day for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections.

The Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections are being held following the death of the incumbent, the late Bung Moktar, at a private hospital in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah on Dec 5.

Warisan has decided to contest both the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections and has named former Sukau state assemblyman Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman and Mazliwati Abdul Malek as its candidates.

Meanwhile, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. has announced that GRS will not field candidates for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections.

-- BERNAMA