KINABATANGAN: Barisan Nasional (BN) said its decision to field candidates for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state seats in the by-elections is not an appeal for sympathy but a bid to retain seats it previously won.
BN War Room Secretariat chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said both seats were last held by the late Bung Moktar Radin, adding the coalition remains confident voters will choose representatives who best serve the constituency.
He said BN opted for younger candidates, Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar for Parliament and Mohd Ismail Ayob for the state seat, believing they can articulate youth concerns and local needs.
Acknowledging that rival candidates bring experience, Ahmad said BN is confident both nominees can compete effectively, noting Naim’s grassroots exposure through years of work alongside his late father, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
Speaking after a working visit here on Friday, he thanked coalition partners and GRS for not contesting, and said campaign support will be reinforced by 27 polling district centres locally and additional “adopted” divisions across Sabah and the country.