KOTA KINABALU: Youth activist Mohd Ismail Ayob, 45, will be Sabah Barisan Nasional's candidate for the Lamag by-election, says its chairman Datuk Jafry Ariffin.
The state seat and the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin on Dec 5.
Jafry had earlier announced Bung Moktar's son, Naim Kurniawan, 31, as the coalition's choice to stand in Kinabatangan.
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He said that Ismail, popularly known as Miha, would be a direct candidate for Sabah Barisan.
The choice of candidates was made through discussions and reaching a consensus with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), he added.
Ismail ran against Bung Moktar as an independent in the Nov 29 state election.
He secured 3,755 votes, while Bung Moktar obtained 3,908 votes to retain the seat with a majority of 153.
Ismail was also a special officer to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in the previous GRS state administration.
Nomination Day for both the Lamag and Kinabatangan by-elections is on Jan 10, with polling on Jan 24.
