Kinabatangan By-Election: BN-GRS Campaign in ‘Fifth Gear’ 

KINABATANGAN, Jan 21 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) campaign together with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has shifted into ‘fifth gear’ in its effort to secure as many votes as possible in the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election.

BN candidate Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar, who is contesting in the constituency, said the remaining two days of campaigning before polling day this Saturday are being fully utilised to refine and intensify efforts to ensure victory in Kinabtangan as well the in the by-election for the state seat of Lamag.

“We are in the final sprint to ensure we can win the parliamentary seat. So I will continue campaigning right up to the last day to secure a better victory,” he told reporters here today.

He said this after holding a small-group ceramah in the Suan Lamba area, about 55 kilometres from the town of Kota Kinabatangan, which was also attended by GRS Sukau division chief Datuk Juhari Janan.

The Kinabatangan UMNO Youth chief, who is fondly known as Naim Moktar, said he has completed visits to all 27 polling districts in the Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency.

Campaigning for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections entered its 12th day today, having begun on Jan 10 after the completion of the nomination process.

Both by-elections are being held following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, 66, on Dec 5 last year. Naim Moktar is the son of Bung Moktar.

Meanwhile, Juhari said he is confident that the strong commitment and close cooperation shown by component parties of the Sabah Unity Government in this by-election will help secure victory for Mohd Kurniawan Naim, including increasing the vote majority compared to the 15th General Election (GE15).

In GE15, Bung Moktar retained the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat with a majority of 4,330 votes, defeating his challenger Mazliwati Abdul Malek from Parti Warisan (Warisan).

“Insya-Allah, we are confident and we pray to Allah SWT (that Mohd Kurniawan Naim will win)… we want to increase the votes to a majority of more than 10,000,” he said.

The Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election sees a three-cornered contest between Mohd Kurniawan Naim, Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan) and Goldam Hamid (Independent), while the Lamag state seat features a straight fight between Mohd Ismail Ayob (BN) and Mazliwati (Warisan).

-- BERNAMA