Pulau Tanjung Aru Residents Honour Bung Moktar’s Legacy

By Syed Iylia Hariz Al-Qadri Syed Izman

KINABATANGAN, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Basic facilities provided at Pulau Tanjung Aru today, including a concrete bridge, 24-hour electricity and clean water, are among the most significant changes in the island community’s lives, according to locals.

They said the facilities are a testament to the service and legacy of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who served Kinabatangan for over two decades.

A resident, Sulaiman Jafar, 72, said life is now vastly different, with basic facilities replacing reliance on natural resources and limited infrastructure, adding that in the past, residents had to carry water three kilometres from a natural source.

“Before, we only had a wooden bridge, and the electricity would go off at 12.30 am. Now, it’s much better,  electricity is available 24 hours, and the water supply is reliable. We used to fetch water from the waterfall at 5 am,” he told Bernama recently.

Sulaiman said he was deeply touched by the late Kinabatangan MP and former Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman’s care for Pulau Tanjung Aru’s 2,000-plus residents.

“People remember his kindness… he did a lot to help here,” he said, adding that he once received fishing gear, including outboard motors, an initiative that greatly boosted the community’s income and living standards.

As a fisherman earning RM1,000 to RM3,000 a month, Sulaiman said past aid has greatly impacted the island community’s daily life.

Another resident, 76-year-old Abdul Samad Hamad, also noted the island’s transformation, saying the provision of clean water and round-the-clock electricity was among Bung Moktar’s greatest contributions to the community.

“He did a lot for the island… the lights now stay on 24 hours, and clean water is piped from Sandakan under the sea. That was his own initiative.

“Before, we had to fetch water from Pulau Berhala, and it wasn’t even clean. At weddings, everyone would go into town (Sandakan) for water. Now, Alhamdulillah, it’s available the moment you wake up,” he said.

Many Pulau Tanjung Aru residents hope Bung Moktar’s legacy of service and people-first leadership will continue through his son, Mohd Kurniawan Naim, who is contesting the Kinabatangan by-election for BN.

“My hope is that they follow his ways. Don’t favour the rich over the poor, and help anyone in need. That’s what we expect from the successor,” said Abdul Samad.

Though sharing a name with Kota Kinabalu’s Tanjung Aru resort, Pulau Tanjung Aru in eastern Sabah is a traditional fishing village, not a tourist spot.

Located three nautical miles (5.5 km) from Sandakan and reachable only by boat, the village is home to Sabah’s Brunei ethnic minority.

Bung Moktar, Kinabatangan MP since 1999 and Lamag assemblyman, died at 66 on Dec 5, last year.

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

The EC has set a 14-day campaign period until 11.59 pm on Jan 23, with early voting and polling on Jan 20 and Jan 24, respectively.

-- BERNAMA