Naim Moktar, Mohd Ismail Thank Kinabatangan, Lamag Voters

KINABATANGAN, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar, 32, who won the traditional Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold Kinabatangan during today’s parliamentary by-election thanked voters for electing him as their new Member of Parliament.

The Kinabatangan UMNO Youth chief described the mandate given by Kinabatangan voters as a huge responsibility and voiced his determination to fulfill his promise to develop the community in his constituency .

He also expressed his appreciation to BN chairman and UMNO president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for their assistance in his victory tonight.

“Thank you so much to my mother, the entire BN and party machineries in the Sabah Unity Government. Also the most appreciated (Kinabatangan) community who have celebrated our democracy today.

“Obviously, this mandate is a huge responsibility and I promise everyone to work for the community who elected me. Insya Allah, I will serve the people well,” he told reporters here.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ismail Ayob, 44, described his win as a mandate to carry the voice of Lamag residents to the state assembly and to carry on his previous efforts with non-governmental organisations (NGO).

"Thank you to all Lamag residents who never stopped supporting and also those who did not support.

"Let’s hope with the end of today’s election, we can rekindle our ties and make Lamag a place to come together,” he said.

Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar secured a huge majority of 14,214 votes to beat Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman of Parti Warisan and independent candidate Goldam Hamid to win the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat, while Mohd Ismail secured a majority of 5,681 votes against Mazliwati Abdul Malek of Warisan to win the Lamag state seat.

The by-elections were held today following the death of incumbent Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin on Dec 5 last year at the age of 66.

-- BERNAMA