Kuala Lumpur (Dec 21) - Naim Kurniawan, the son of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, has been officially announced as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election.
The announcement was shared by UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Maslan in a Facebook post on Sunday night. He said the candidate was unveiled by BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during a BN dinner event held at Hotel Premiera.
According to Ahmad Maslan, Naim Kurniawan is believed to be well received by the people of Kinabatangan.
When contacted, Naim Kurniawan said he accepted the responsibility and trust placed in him by UMNO and BN leadership to continue the party’s legacy in the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat.
He acknowledged that the task would not be easy, noting that the Kinabatangan constituency is vast, comparable in size to the state of Pahang. Nevertheless, he said he was prepared to carry out the responsibility to ensure the voices of Kinabatangan residents continue to be represented.
Naim Kurniawan also said that he has received positive acceptance and strong support from UMNO leaders and grassroots members in the constituency as he seeks to retain the seat.
The Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and the Lamag state seat were left vacant following the passing of Bung Moktar, who was also BN Sabah chairman, on December 5.
The Election Commission has set polling day for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections on January 24, 2026. Nomination day and early voting have been scheduled for January 10 and January 20 respectively.
Bung Moktar had successfully defended the Lamag state seat during the 17th Sabah State Election held on November 29.