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BARISAN Nasional (BN) Sabah has announced Mohd Ismail Ayob, popularly known as Miha, as its candidate for the Lamag State Legislative Assembly (DUN) by-election, marking a strategic shift towards what the coalition describes as a “unity candidate” approach.
Mohd Ismail had previously contested the Lamag seat as an independent in the last Sabah state election. His candidacy for the by-election will be formalised through direct membership of BN.
BN Sabah chairman Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the decision reflects a governance-oriented political strategy aimed at reducing conflict, strengthening consensus and ensuring political stability as the foundation for sustainable administration and development in the state.
“This approach is aligned with the principles of political governance that emphasise the reduction of conflict, the building of consensus and stability as the basis for long-term administration and development of the state,” he said.
“Based on these considerations, BN Sabah will nominate Mohd Ismail Ayob as a unity candidate through the capacity of direct membership of BN,” Jafry told reporters at a media engagement at the UMNO Sabah building on Tuesday.
Jafry, who is also the Sabah UMNO chief, said the move was part of an institution-based political strategy to strengthen broader cooperation, bridge political divides and ensure that development programmes for the people could continue without disruption caused by political uncertainty.
He acknowledged that the decision was also intended to cool the political temperature in Sabah following an intensely contested state election.
“We have just come through politics that were extremely fierce, creating a lot of hostility and so on. For me, we are taking the middle path to ensure that, perhaps, the people can see and that we can help,” he said.
“The message is to ensure that the Lamag constituency is not sidelined from the mainstream of development. Moreover, the choice of a young candidate, as was known during the 17th state election, reflects the fact that young voters form a very large segment.
“Based on that, we also want to prepare a new generation of leaders to face the future,” he added.
Jafry also stressed that the nomination underscored the continued implementation of UMNO Sabah’s autonomy in making political decisions.
“That is the decision. I cannot make the decision alone. In truth, we discussed it with him (UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi); we gave our views and he accepted the rationale of the decision,” he said.
Earlier, BN had also announced UMNO Kinabatangan Youth chief Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar as its candidate for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat.
Mohd Naim, 31, is the son of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who had held both the parliamentary and state seats. Bung Moktar passed away on 5 December following complications involving kidney and lung conditions.
The by-elections for both the Lamag state seat and the Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency are being held to fill unexpected vacancies and have been scheduled for 24 January 2026.- December 30, 2025