KINABATANGAN: The campaign for the twin by-elections of Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and Lamag state seat in this east coast district kicked off in a less boisterous manner than the usual by-elections.
The chants and shouts in support of the political parties seemed more muted as party members from Barisan Nasional and Warisan with their flags walked in good weather to the nomination centre at Dewan Sri Lamag.
Barisan’s Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar, 31, will face Warisan’s Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman, 67, and an independent, Goldam Hamid, 40, for the Kinabatangan seat.
In Lamag, it’s a straight fight between Barisan’s Mohd Ismail Ayob @ Miha, 45, and Warisan’s Mazliwati Abdul Malek Chua, 53.
Returning officer Eddy Syaizul Rizam Abdullah said there were no objections to any of the five nominations filed and all papers were accepted as at 10am yesterday.
Kinabatangan OCPD Supt Ravi Duraisamy said the nomination process was smooth with no incidents or reports lodged by any party.
Kinabatangan has a total of 48,722 eligible voters while Lamag has 13,899 registered voters for the by-elections to be held on Jan 24.
The by-elections were called following the death of its incumbent, Sabah Barisan-Umno chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin on Dec 5, six days after he retained the Lamag seat in the Nov 29 state election.
Both Mohd Naim Kurniawan, who is Bung Moktar’s son, and Mohd Ismail, have kicked off the Barisan campaign, calling for continuity, development and stability.
Mohd Naim Kurniawan said the race will not be an easy one for him.
“I was not born in Kinabatangan but my roots run deep in Sungai Kinabatangan. I have been coming back here often since I was young. I decided to give my all to serve the constituents here,” he said.
Bung Moktar was born in Kinabatangan’s Kampung Bilit in Sukau.
Observers see both Mohd Naim Kurniawan and Mohd Ismail having an edge over Warisan’s Saddi and Mazliwati for the two seats, as Warisan tries to whip up Sabah’s local party sentiment to gain traction in a Sabah Barisan-Umno stronghold.
However, both Mohd Naim Kurniawan and Saddi will face independent candidate Goldam who hopes to seek support from voters who are not attracted to the two candidates.
After nominations closed, Mohd Naim Kurniawan and Mohd Ismail, accompanied by Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Jafry Arifin, launched the Barisan Kinabatangan election command centre before they headed for a walkabout at Pasar Tamu Sukau. They then attended a futsal game with youths at Kampung Sukau.
Warisan’s Saddi said his main goal is to uplift Kinabatangan, which he feels has long been labelled as a poor and underdeveloped district in Malaysia.
He said Kinabatangan already has development plans.
“But what matters now is bringing experience and political will to Parliament to ensure these plans are properly implemented,” he added.
Mazliwati said she believes the people of Lamag want development and for the state’s rights to be defended through a local-based party.
“I stand for the people of Lamag to bring principled leadership, community empowerment and a better future for the people that they deserve,” she said, adding that her chances are good as she takes on Mohd Ismail in a straight fight.
