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UMNO Sabah Chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has acknowledged that he has become a prime target for political rivals determined to see both him and Barisan Nasional (BN) defeated in the 17th Sabah state election.
The BN candidate for the Lamag state seat said he had received information indicating that opposing parties had deployed their full campaign machinery to secure his defeat in a constituency he has long regarded as a stronghold.
In the 16th Sabah state election, Bung Moktar retained Lamag with a 661-vote majority in a five-cornered contest.
Despite what he described as persistent “political arrows” aimed at him, he insisted that he remained unshaken and confident in BN’s prospects not only in Lamag but across the 44 other constituencies the coalition is contesting.
“As the Sabah BN Chairman and leader of UMNO Sabah, it is only natural that all these arrows are directed at me. Insya-Allah, I remain confident that Lamag voters will continue to support BN because I have given my all, and our machinery has been established in every area,” he said when met by Bernama recently.
Lamag, which lies within the Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency, is among the most closely watched seats in the state polls, with rural development issues and the living standards of remote communities expected to dominate voter sentiment.
This time, Lamag will see a six-way contest involving BN, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan), an Independent candidate, Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Parti Impian Sabah (PIS).
Located approximately 316 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu, the interior constituency is not only Bung Moktar’s political fortress but also a symbolic test of BN’s strength on Sabah’s east coast.
As one of 13 new seats created through the previous redelineation exercise, Lamag continues to grapple with longstanding rural challenges, including unpaved roads, limited internet access and uneven job opportunities.
Bung Moktar framed the state election as more than a fight for a seat, describing it as a crucial test of BN’s relevance as a development-driven party in Sabah.
He argued that slogans such as “Sabah for Sabahan” and calls to “choose local parties” were political rhetoric lacking substantive plans for the state.
“Lamag used to be thick jungle. No one even knew about it, and after becoming the elected representative, I made it my mission to transform Lamag. Alhamdulillah, today the community can see the development that has taken place,” he said.
He admitted that several infrastructure projects, including a community college and sports complex, have yet to be realised, but stressed that the physical development achieved so far has brought Lamag closer in line with other constituencies in Sabah.
Political analyst Associate Professor Dr Romzi Ationg of Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) described Lamag as a “hot seat”, but noted that Bung Moktar continues to enjoy strong grassroots support due to his long service and dominant political presence in Kinabatangan.
“Although several local parties are ready to challenge BN, Bung Moktar still has a firm grip on Lamag because he is not just a politician but a bold figure who has served as Member of Parliament for Kinabatangan for six terms. If Bung fails in Lamag, it means BN has a problem in this state. Therefore, he must defend the seat with everything he has,” he said.
According to the Electoral Roll as of August 2025, Lamag has 13,859 registered voters, of whom 4,635 or 33.4 per cent are young voters aged between 18 and 29. Romzi noted that more than half of the electorate is aged between 21 and 49, a demographic seeking employment opportunities, economic networks and balanced community development.
“Young voters in Sabah are now more objective and evaluate candidates based on capability and service record, not mere slogans or party sentiment.
“They will support whoever can deliver real development. Young voters want to see who brings genuine change, not just a party brand,” Romzi said, adding that fragmentation among opposition parties could work to Bung Moktar’s advantage.
With its vast geography, difficult logistics and rising influence of social media, Lamag is expected to serve as an important indicator of rural voter sentiment across Sabah.
The Election Commission has set 25 November for early voting and 29 November for polling day in the 17th Sabah state election. - November 17, 2025