If Malaysian politics were a variety show, Bung Moktar Radin would be the headliner. The man doesn’t need a scriptwriter he generates his own viral content every time he opens his mouth. Over the years, Bung has given us some of the greatest political comedy moments: calling opposition MPs “monkeys” in Parliament, use word “Duck You,” insisting Proton is better than Toyota Camry (while riding in imported cars himself), and even debating football results when everyone else was discussing national policy. And let’s not forget, he once became the unofficial poster boy for polygamy when he married actress Zizie Izette gossip fodder that kept Malaysians entertained for months.
That’s the Bung brand: unpredictable, unpolished, and strangely relatable like your kampung uncle at the wet market who argues loudly about fish prices while everyone else just nods quietly. Which is why when he recently asked Sabah voters, “Why not try me as Chief Minister?”, it landed less like a statesman’s manifesto and more like a pasar malam pitch. It’s as if Bung is holding up a plate of kuih at Street Market saying: “Boss, try la maybe sedap!”
But comedy aside, Sabah’s politics is no laughing matter. And Bung’s casual pitch to “try him” speaks volumes about both his ambition and the current state of Sabah leadership.
The Bung Proposition
Let’s be clear this wasn’t some off hand remark over teh tarik. Bung Moktar, UMNO Sabah chief, MP for Kinabatangan and Adun for Lamag, is dead serious about wanting the Chief Minister’s chair. He’s already confirmed he’ll defend his state seat, and he’s made it clear that sidelining him could destabilise Sabah BN. His challenge comes at a time when the Warisan, GRS and BN shuffle continues to confuse voters more than a crooked football offside rule.
So what’s Bung’s angle?
- Stability Card - He’s positioning himself as the senior hand, the BN strongman who’s been around since Mahathir 1.0. His message: “I’ve been here, I’ve seen it all, I can handle Sabah.”
- Anti-Gimmick Narrative - Bung’s been blasting the current state government’s flurry of “mega project” announcements, calling them election ploys. In other words: “Don’t fall for free nasi minyak at the kenduri; vote for the guy who brings rice every day.”
- Relatability - Like it or not, Bung talks the way a lot of Sabahans talk. Not polished, not rehearsed, not wrapped in Putrajaya jargon. He blurts, he scolds, he jokes and people remember him.
The Sabah Reality Check
But asking voters to “just try” him as CM is a gamble. Sabahans are no strangers to political experiments after all, the state has had more party hopping, reshuffles, and mid-term collapses than a bad drama Hai Cinta, Dengarkanlah!. The rakyat has “tried” Warisan, GRS, BN alliances, and every other permutation in the past decade.
So when Bung says, “try me,” many Sabahans are thinking: “Boss, how many times we want to try new chefs in this kitchen? We still makan maggi in the end.”
The problem for Bung is that his humour and unpredictability, while entertaining, also raise questions: can he manage Sabah’s messy coalition politics without turning the whole Dewan Undangan Negeri into a comedy club?
Bung’s Image Problem
For every voter who finds him charmingly direct, there’s another who thinks he’s too rash, too noisy, too “uncle at the market.” His greatest strength being unfiltered is also his Achilles heel.
Consider this:
- When he called MPs “monkeys,” it was funny at the time, but also painted him as hot headed.
- When he defended Proton while driving imported cars, it cemented the “do as I say, not as I do” label.
- When he ranted about football, it made him relatable, but also made people wonder if his priorities were in order.
If he wants to be CM, Bung has to convince Sabahans that behind the humour lies a serious leader. Otherwise, voters will just keep sharing his quotes on WhatsApp groups for laughs, without ever marking his name on the ballot.
Yet even as he makes this pitch, Bung carries baggage heavier than a kampung durian harvest. His ongoing RM2.8 million bribery trial has put him on the defensive in court, where he boldly claimed he has “zero tolerance for corruption.” The irony isn’t lost on Sabahans: declaring purity while standing trial is like saying “I don’t touch sugar” with a teh tarik in your hand. For his supporters, it’s proof of resilience he’s fighting the system and still standing tall. For his critics, it’s a red flag that makes the “try me” pitch sound more like “try at your own risk.”
Why He Still Matters
Here’s the twist: Bung Moktar, with all his flaws, still matters. Sabah BN without him is like a karaoke session without “Jambatan Tamparuli” possible, but the vibe just isn’t the same. He commands loyalty in Kinabatangan, has grassroots networks across rural Sabah, and he’s survived politically longer than many who mocked him.
And in Sabah, survival counts. Leaders rise and fall like monsoon waves, but Bung has weathered every storm. If politics is about being remembered, then Bung has already succeeded. The question is whether Sabahans want to turn the class clown into the headmaster.
The Humour and the Serious Choice
It’s easy to laugh at Bung. He provides material effortlessly, from Duck you to monkeys to football rants. But beneath the humour is a serious question: what do Sabahans want in their next Chief Minister?
Do they want a technocrat who speaks polished English and quotes policy papers? Or do they want someone who talks like them, jokes like them, and promises to fight for them even if it means ruffling feathers in KL?
Bung’s pitch “Why not try me?” isn’t just about him. It’s about Sabah voters deciding whether they’re ready to swap polished promises for raw, loud, unfiltered leadership.
Closing Thought
Sabah politics is messy, colourful, and unpredictable much like Bung himself. His “Why not try me?” sounds casual, almost like a dare. For some, that’s refreshing. For others, it’s terrifying.
But whether he becomes CM or not, one thing is certain: Bung Moktar has already carved his place in Malaysian political folklore. Few politicians can make us laugh, groan, and still take them seriously enough to consider them for the top job.
So will Sabahans “try” Bung? Only the ballot box can say. But one thing’s for sure win or lose, Bung will give us something to talk about at the kedai kopi for years to come.
Write socially conscious opinion columns with a local flavour mixing humour, satire, and heartfelt reflection to uncover the deeper currents shaping our nation - Annan Vaithegi
Annan Vaithegi (annanvaithegi@icloud.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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