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THE vast area is the main challenge that the UMNO machinery needs to address to defend the Lamag State Legislative Assembly (DUN) and Kinabatangan Parliament seats in the by-elections on January 24.
Head of UMNO War Room Secretariat, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, said that the Kinabatangan Parliament, which has three DUNs, has an area almost the same as the state of Johor.
He explained that the situation required hard work from the machinery to meet approximately 48,722 voters, consisting of 48,562 ordinary voters and 196 police and spouses as early voters.
"In this by-election, no extra help was sent from UMNO Divisions in the Peninsula. Instead, 24 divisions in Sabah will be in charge of 27 District Voting Centres. ," he said.
He said this after the groundbreaking ceremony for the SK Parit Jawa Open Hall in Pontian, today.
Meanwhile, Ahmad, who is also a member of the UMNO Supreme Working Council, urged party leaders from the Peninsula to also help with the Kinabatangan and Lamag DUN by-election campaigns, especially after the UMNO General Assembly.
"We understand that from Wednesday to Saturday, this will be a very busy day because delegates from all over the country will be attending the UMNO General Assembly 2025.
"The presence of party leaders from the Peninsula is quite important to help the campaign machinery in defending the Lamag DUN and Kinabatangan Parliament, which are BN strongholds," he added.
The Kinabatangan Parliamentary by-election will see a three-cornered fight, while the Lamag State Legislative Assembly will involve a one-on-one contest.
In the Kinabatangan Parliament, BN is pitting Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar, who is also the Kinabatangan UMNO Youth Chief, against former Sukau State Assemblyman (ADUN) from Warisan, Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman and Independent candidate, Goldam Hamid.
For the Lamag State Assembly seat, BN candidate Mohd Ismail Ayob is facing Warisan candidate Mazliwati Abdul Malek.
The by-election was held following the death of the incumbent of both seats, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, due to kidney failure and lung infection on December 5. – January 11, 2026