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FOR candidates contesting the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat, the campaign trail winds through muddy tracks, flooded roads and long stretches of river, underscoring the logistical realities of seeking votes in one of Malaysia’s largest and most remote constituencies.
Covering an area roughly half the size of Pahang, Kinabatangan has 48,764 registered voters spread across 27 polling districts in three state constituencies, Kuamut, Lamag and Sukau.
Many villages are tucked deep within the Crocker Range or lie along rivers with no road access, leaving boats as the only means of transport and making campaigning both time-consuming and costly.
Campaign teams often spend hours, and sometimes an entire day, travelling by four-wheel drive or river craft to meet just a few hundred voters. In Inarad, a polling district in Tongod in the upper reaches of the Kinabatangan River, 580 registered voters live in an area hemmed in by forest reserves, plantations and farms, a setting that illustrates the access challenges faced by candidates.
Kampung Kuamut, also located upriver, remains accessible only by boat, with journeys from Kinabatangan town taking up to six hours depending on river and weather conditions.
Independent candidate Goldam Hamid conceded that it is unrealistic to reach every part of the constituency within the limited campaign period.
“I will not be able to reach all areas,” The Star cited him saying, adding that his priority is to engage as many voters as possible before polling day on 24 January.
“Sukau is a bit difficult to cover fully. In Lamag, I can reach most polling districts, and maybe about 80% of Kuamut,” he said, noting that he depends on the help of friends to access remote locations.
Warisan candidate Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman shared similar views, pointing to the constraints of a two-week campaign.
“It is not possible to cover everything,” he said.
He added that areas such as Kuamut and Inarad have no road connections and can only be reached by boat, with river journeys taking up to four hours depending on conditions.
For Barisan Nasional’s Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar, the scale of Kinabatangan itself poses the greatest challenge.
“The constituency is simply too large, with scattered settlements and very different needs,” he said.
“That is why I strongly support the realignment of the Kinabatangan constituency, so representation can be more focused, more effective and fair to every community.”
Despite these obstacles, Naim said he remains confident of reaching voters in all polling districts by the end of the two-week campaign.
Beyond the immediate contest, the campaign has also highlighted long-standing development gaps in Kinabatangan. Many villages still lack proper roads, electricity and piped water, while river communities depend heavily on boats for daily supplies, schooling and access to healthcare.
During the monsoon season, even limited road links can be cut off by floods, reinforcing the enduring challenges faced by both residents and those seeking to represent them. - January 14, 2026