KINABATANGAN: The State-level Unity Government concept proved decisive in securing commanding victories for Barisan Nasional candidates in Saturday’s Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections.
Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah Vice President Datuk Masiung Banah attributed the landslide victories to cooperation between the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), Pakatan Harapan and Upko in supporting the BN candidates.
“The unification of this coalition leads to a win-win approach for political stability,” said Masiung, who is also Sedco Group chairman, shortly after official results were announced at 10.30pm Saturday.
Masiung, who spent four days campaigning in Kuamut and Lamag, thanked the GRS leadership for their efforts throughout the campaign period.
He said the by-elections demonstrated close collaboration among the GRS, BN, Upko and PH, reflecting political maturity.
“We in the GRS did our utmost to help secure BN’s decisive victory after receiving instructions from Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor,” he said.
Masiung added that Peninsular Malaysia-based parties should respect this cooperation, noting their capabilities in Sabah were tested during the 17th state election.
“The political wheel keeps turning,” he said, pointing out the Unity Government’s strategic approach to political stability in the State.
For the record, Mohd Kurniawan Naim Mokhtar won the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat with 19,852 votes, defeating Warisan’s Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (5,638 votes) and independent candidate Goldam H. Salangah (946 votes) by a majority of 14,214.
In the Lamag state constituency, BN’s Mohd Ismail Ayub secured 7,269 votes against Warisan’s Mazilawati Abdul Malek, who received 1,588 votes, winning by a 5,681-vote majority.
The results represent a significant increase from previous elections. During the 15th General Election (GE15), the late Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar Radin defended Kinabatangan with a 4,330-vote majority against Warisan’s Mazliwati.
In the 17th state election in Nov 29 last year, he won the Lamag seat with a narrow 153-vote majority in a five-way contest.
