KUALA LUMPUR – Barisan Nasional’s victories in the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections signal voters’ confidence in political stability and leadership continuity, BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
In a Facebook post following the by-election results, the deputy prime minister said the mandate given to BN was a trust that must be carried with full responsibility, particularly in continuing the service legacy of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
He said Bung Moktar had devoted his political life to Kinabatangan and Lamag, making both constituencies central to his lifelong struggle.
“The victories of Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar in the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and Mohd Ismail Ayob in the Lamag state seat are a great trust to continue the service legacy of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin,” he said.
Zahid also expressed appreciation to the Bn machinery and its partners in the Sabah state government for their commitment and cooperation throughout the campaign.
Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the results reflected the people’s trust in leadership that is stable, principled and responsible, as well as confidence in Sabah’s development direction.
Arthur, who is also Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability and president of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah, said the wins symbolised unity in leadership and political maturity within the Unity Government.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the victories demonstrated the effectiveness of BN’s party machinery, which was mobilised comprehensively and in an integrated manner.
In the Kinabatangan parliamentary contest, Mohd Kurniawan Naim retained the seat with a majority of 14,214 votes, defeating Warisan candidate Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman and independent candidate Goldam Hamid. The seat had been held by his late father since 1999.
Mohd Ismail Ayob retained the Lamag state seat for BN with a majority of 5,681 votes, defeating Warisan candidate Mazliwati Abdul Malek.
The Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections were held following the death of Bung Moktar, 66, on December 5 last year. – January 25, 2026