KINABATANGAN, Jan 25 — Political stability and the assurance of continued development have been identified as the primary factors influencing voters' inclination to grant Barisan Nasional (BN) a resounding victory in the Kinabatangan Parliamentary and Lamag state legislative assembly by-elections yesterday, said political analysts.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah's Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty senior lecturer Haryati Abdul Karim said that BN’s position as part of the Unity Government in Sabah boosted voter confidence in the party's ability to bring the voices and interests of the people of Kinabatangan and Lamag to both the Federal and state levels.
These factors are crucial to ensuring the continuity of policies and the implementation of development, particularly in rural areas still grappling with basic infrastructure issues.
“BN is part of the Unity Government, which is the people's choice; this gave BN an advantage in securing victory in the Kinabatangan Parliament and Lamag state seats.
“More importantly, is the stability needed to solve many basic problems, such as roads, water, and electricity. That is currently the priority for all Sabahans,” she told Bernama.
Haryati added that the approach taken by BN’s Kinabatangan candidate Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar and Lamag candidate Mohd Ismail Ayob — who presented fresh ideas, maintained a low profile, and were active in community engagement at the grassroots level — successfully attracted widespread rural support.
The approachable personalities of both candidates made voters feel comfortable, thereby ensuring that BN’s campaign messages were well received.
“The signal voters may be trying to send is that they want leaders who are humble, frequently engage with the people, and listen to their problems, qualities found in Mohd Kurniawan Naim and Mohd Ismail,” she said.
The message from voters is clear: they want leaders who are close to the people, ready to listen, and capable of ensuring continuous development.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sabah's Administrative Science and Policy Studies Faculty senior lecturer Tony Paridi Bagang echoed the sentiment that BN's victory was driven primarily by the narrative of political stability.
“BN’s position as part of the state government, combined with voter sentiment, became key elements that strengthened political stability and increased public confidence in the continuity of administration and development,” he said.
Tony noted that the cohesion within the Sabah Unity Government also gave the BN machinery an advantage in operating more systematically and effectively, especially in rural areas where sustained relationships and the presence of representatives are highly valued.
“In Kinabatangan and Lamag, BN has the advantage of being a long-rooted party with a consistent local network.
“The combined strength of the BN machinery, support from government allies including Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), and BN’s role in both state and Federal governments created a strong perception of political stability.
“Emotional factors related to the leadership legacy of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin also still played a role,” he said.
The Kinabatangan by-election results saw Kurniawan successfully defend the seat held by his father since 1999 with a majority of 14,214 votes, defeating challengers Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan) and Goldam Hamid (Independent).
Meanwhile, Ismail also secured a majority of 5,681 votes for the Lamag seat, defeating Mazliwati Abdul Malek from Warisan.
The Kinabatangan and Lamag by-elections were held following the death of the incumbent, Bung Moktar, 66, on December 5 last year.
