KINABATANGAN: Mohd Naim Kurniawan Moktar is taking the pressure of stepping into his late father’s shoes in stride as he campaigns to retain the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat for Barisan Nasional.
Still mourning the death of his father just over five weeks ago, the 31-year-old son of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said he is carrying heavy personal and political expectations as he enters the race.
“Of course, there is pressure. This is a very big matter for me,” Mohd Naim said in an interview.
While acknowledging that sympathy exists among voters following his father’s death, Mohd Naim said he does not believe it will be the deciding factor for voters.
“Voters will choose based on trust and whether you can carry their voices and represent them.”
Naim said that, if elected, his priority would be to continue the work started by his father, particularly in addressing basic infrastructure needs in rural Kinabatangan.
“The main focus has always been basic needs – rural water supply, rural electricity and road access to villages.
“These were issues my father worked very hard on, and I want to see it through.”
Mohd Naim said he hopes to bring his own approach to public service, in line with a new generation of voters, while ensuring visible improvements on the ground as quickly as possible.
Grassroots engagement remains central to his approach, he said, citing activities such as playing futsal with youths in Sukau and visiting villages.
Reflecting on advice from Bung Moktar, Mohd Naim said his father always emphasised the importance of staying close to the people.
“He always told me to turun padang (go to the ground) and to listen to what people have to say. He also reminded me that there are no permanent enemies in politics.”
While people may think that being busy with the election would be a way for him to cope with losing his father, Mohd Naim said “the sadness will never go away”.
However, he said it helps knowing he has the opportunity to fight for the chance to complete what his father had always wanted to do – to solve basic infrastructure issues for the entire Kinabatangan.
“I am going to achieve that on his behalf if I am given the mandate by the people. I believe that his spirit will always be with me throughout this journey,” he said.
Mohd Naim is in a three-cornered fight against Parti Warisan’s candidate Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman and independent candidate Goldam Hamid. Polling is on Jan 24.
