KOTA KINABALU: Two Barisan Nasional candidates are putting their political differences aside as they saddle together with the aim of winning the Kinabatangan and Lamag seats.
Naim Kurniawan Moktar and Mohd Ismail Ayob @ Miha said political differences during the recently-concluded state election should be put aside to secure the seats for Barisan, which forms part of the state coalition government.
“There are no hard feelings in politics. The goal is to ensure the candidate wins and that society achieves the progress desired by the people.
“Once friends, still friends. Once friends, now opponents,” said Naim, who is also the Kinabatangan Umno division youth chief, after being named as the Kinabatangan candidate by Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Jafry Ariffin.
Naim was also the key campaigner for his late father, Datuk Bung Moktar Radin, who retained the Lamag seat in the Nov 29 state election.
“As for whether I am well known, that is for the people of Kinabatangan to answer.
“Barisan Nasional is a credible party. I am confident that if Barisan fields highly credible candidates, God willing, the coalition will achieve victory for the coalition,” he responded when asked if he was popular in the constituency that comprises the Lamag, Sukau and Kuamut state seats.
Meanwhile, Miha, who contested as an independent in the Nov 29 state election and narrowly lost his bid to unseat Bung Moktar, said the previous political rivalry was a thing of the past.
“We must focus on developing Lamag. Today, the coalition state government has been formed. Barisan is part of the state government and also the federal government. That is important for us.
“Political differences that have lasted over 10 years must end; the focus should be on the people and development,” he said.
Miha remains optimistic about having a better chance to retain the Lamag seat for Barisan this time around.
“Perhaps victory is possible. The previous result (in terms of votes) was quite high, and maybe that is one of the factors,” he said.
