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BARISAN Nasional’s Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar, who won the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election, expressed his gratitude to voters for renewing their support for Barisan Nasional and enabling the coalition to defend its traditional seat.
The UMNO Youth chief for the Kinabatangan division said the mandate granted by voters represented a major responsibility, and he pledged to fulfil his commitment to serving and developing the local community.
Known as Naim Moktar, he also recorded his appreciation to Barisan Nasional chairman and UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as well as Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, whom he said had played an important role in his victory.
“My deepest thanks go to my mother, the entire BN machinery and the party machinery within the Sabah Unity Government coalition. Most of all, I appreciate the whole Kinabatangan community who celebrated our democracy today,” he told reporters.
“Without question, this mandate comes with a great responsibility and my promise to everyone is to work for the community that has chosen me. God willing, I will continue to provide service that brings real benefit to the people here,” he said.
In the Lamag state by-election, Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Ismail Ayob, 44, said his victory represented a mandate to carry the voices of the people of Lamag into the State Legislative Assembly and to continue the service he had previously undertaken through non-governmental organisations.
“Thank you to all the people of Lamag who never stopped giving their support,” he said.
“Hopefully, with the election now over, we can reunite our relationships and make Lamag a district where unity among our people is restored,” he added.
In the Kinabatangan parliamentary contest, Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar secured a commanding victory with a majority of 14,214 votes, defeating Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman of Parti Warisan and independent candidate Goldam Hamid.
In Lamag, Mohd Ismail Ayob won with a majority of 5,681 votes against Warisan candidate Mazliwati Abdul Malek.
Election Commission chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun said voter turnout stood at 55.06 per cent for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election, while 64.93 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots in the Lamag state contest.
“The Election Commission would like to inform that the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election was won by Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar (Naim Moktar) from Barisan Nasional with a total of 19,852 votes and a majority of 14,214 votes,” he said in a statement issued on Saturday night.
“The Lamag state by-election in Sabah was won by Mohd Ismail Ayob (Miha), also from Barisan Nasional, with a total of 7,269 votes and a majority of 5,681 votes,” he added.
The by-elections were held following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, aged 66, on 5 December last year.
If you want, I can also tighten this into a regional wire brief, add political context on BN’s standing in Sabah, or produce a neutral results-focused version for international readers. - January 25, 2026