KOTA KINABALU - The upcoming by-elections triggered by the passing of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin are expected to feature candidates closely connected to him, representing Barisan Nasional (BN) for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and the Lamag state seat.
Mohd Naim Moktar
It is widely anticipated that Mohd Naim Moktar will be nominated for the Lamag state seat, while Jafry — who is also the State Assemblyman (ADUN) for Sukau — is expected to contest the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat. These seats were previously held by the late Bung Moktar since 2020 and 1999 respectively.
The election dates for both seats will be determined after a Special Meeting of the Election Commission (SPR) on 16 December, following confirmation that the commission has received notices of unexpected vacancies for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and the Lamag state seat.
Bung Moktar, who passed away while receiving treatment at Gleneagle Hospital in Kota Kinabalu last Friday, had just secured a second term in Lamag during the 17th Sabah State Election (PRN17) on 29 November.
He won the seat with a majority of 153 votes after obtaining 3,908 votes, defeating independent candidate Mohd Ismail Ayob, who garnered 3,755 votes in a six-cornered contest. At the parliamentary level, Bung Moktar retained the Kinabatangan seat for the sixth term during the 15th General Election (PRU15) on 19 November 2022. He won with a majority of 4,330 votes, receiving 16,842 votes against Parti Warisan candidate Mazliwati Abdul Malek Chua, who secured 12,512 votes in a straight fight.
Mohd Naim, who is also the Treasurer of UMNO Youth at the national level, is seen as a suitable figure to continue his father’s legacy in Lamag. Meanwhile, Jafry — a trusted confidant of the late Bung Moktar — is regarded as the most fitting candidate to fill the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat.
Jafry, recently appointed as Sabah’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment, had worked closely with Bung Moktar in leading UMNO Kinabatangan and UMNO Sabah, including through the challenging period after the party’s downfall in 2018 when many leaders left UMNO–BN.
Given Bung Moktar’s nearly three decades of contributions and goodwill in Kinabatangan, some parties have also suggested that other political groups refrain from contesting the two by-elections, allowing his successors to win uncontested in his honour.