KUALA LUMPUR — Kinabatangan Umno Youth chief Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar says he has no intention of contesting the Lamag state by-election following the passing of his father, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
Mohd Naim, who has been floated as a potential candidate, said the Lamag seat should be entrusted to someone born in the constituency to continue its long-standing struggle.
He noted that many supporters had urged him to step in, especially after he was tasked with helping Barisan Nasional (BN) secure the Lamag seat in the recent 17th Sabah State Election.
“I appreciate the support from those who want me to contest, but the selection of candidates is up to the party. As a loyal member, I fully respect whatever decision the party makes.
“The voice of Lamag must continue to resonate,” he wrote in a Facebook post yesterday.
Mohd Naim also outlined several criteria he believes the candidate should meet: must be a Lamag native, aged 50 and below, educated, and loyal to the party’s cause.
Bung Moktar passed away at a private hospital in Kota Kinabalu at 1.46am on Dec 5, less than a week after being re-elected as Lamag assemblyman for a second term. He was 66.
In the 17th Sabah State Election on Nov 29, Bung Moktar, who also served as Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman, retained the Lamag seat with a 153‑vote majority in a six‑cornered contest.
Nationally, Bung Moktar first entered Parliament as Kinabatangan MP after winning the seat in the 10th General Election in 1999, going on to serve six consecutive terms.
On Tuesday (Dec 9), Election Commission (EC) secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus said the EC will hold a special meeting on Dec 16 to determine key dates for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections. – December 12, 2025