PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional's win in the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election and the Lamag state by-election shows that the people still have confidence and trust in them.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision reflects the people's continued confidence in the efforts, service and commitment that have been shown at the grassroots level.
"This victory should be received with an attitude of responsibility as a trust of the people that demands leadership with integrity and an effective level of service as well as the ability to meet the needs of the community in an inclusive and continuous manner.
"The Madani government will continue to uphold the spirit of consensus and togetherness to ensure that development in Sabah can be strengthened, the well-being of the people continues to be preserved and the civil agenda can be embodied with joint determination," he said in a Facebook post on Sunday (Jan 25).
"Congratulations to the new Kinabatangan Parliamentarian and Lamag state assemblyman, Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar and Mohd Ismail Ayob (respectively), for the victory, and with prayers that the legacy of service and leadership of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin continues to be preserved as best as possible," he added.
Mohd Kurniawan Naim, the son of the late Bung Moktar, defended the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat held by his father since 1999 with a 14,214 majority, defeating Parti Warisan's Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman and Independent candidate Goldam Hamid.
Mohd Ismail defeated Mazliwati Abdul Malek from Warisan for the Lamag state seat with a 5,681 majority.
The by-elections were called following the passing of its incumbent Bung Moktar on Dec 5.
