Bung Moktar Dies Just Days After Retaining Sabah Seat
Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin was said to have been receiving intensive treatment for lung complications and kidney failure.
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Sabah politics was shaken early Friday morning when veteran leader Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, chairman of Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) and MP for Kinabatangan, passed away at 1.46am at the Gleneagles Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
His death was confirmed by his son Naim Kurniawan Moktar on Facebook.
He had been receiving intensive treatment for lung complications and kidney failure, according to Sabah UMNO secretary Datuk Jafry Ariffin.
His death comes barely a week after he defended the Lamag state seat in the 29 November Sabah state election, a nail-biter victory with a slim 153-vote majority.
The death of the 66-year-old politician marks an abrupt end to a political career that has shaped Sabah’s landscape for decades.
Just last weekend he was seen cheerful in photos he shared during the state election.
Clad in his signature casual Polo shirt, Bung Moktar smiled and waved as he cast his vote at the SK Bukit Garam voting centre.
From Kampung Bilit to the National Stage
Born on 14 September 1959 in Kampung Bilit, Sukau, the Orang Sungai native built his way up the ranks through government service:
- Formerly with JASA Sandakan and MARA Sandakan
- Served as political secretary to the Sabah Finance Minister
- Entered Parliament in 1999 as the Kinabatangan MP
- Held the seat continuously for 26 years
- Later became Lamag assemblyman and Sabah Deputy Chief Minister (2020–2023)
Love him or not, the sharp-tongued BN-man’s political story is one of longevity and survival.
As UMNO Sabah chief and BN Sabah chairman since 2018, he remained one of the most influential, and colourful figures in the state’s political arena.
Bung Moktar is survived by two wives; Nor Asidah Alimudin and actress Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, and their children.
Court Cases, Controversies & Everything In Between
A towering figure in Sabah politics, Bung Moktar was also no stranger to controversy.
He and his wife Zizie were charged in a high-profile corruption case over FELCRA’s investment in unit trusts.
After years of court proceedings, both were freed in 2023 when the judge ruled the evidence insufficient.
In 2010, he faced the syariah legal system for entering into a polygamous marriage without the required consent, a case widely discussed on social media.
Despite these storms, Bung Moktar maintained his influence, winning elections and retaining his leadership positions until the end.
His passing immediately triggers a by-election for the Kinabatangan Parliament seat and the Lamag state seat.
Bung Moktar was a fixture of Malaysian politics; a firebrand, a survivor, and a man whose presence could never be ignored.
From his kampung roots to the upper echelons of state leadership, his journey was filled with highs, controversies, and unmistakable charisma.
Status of Bung Moktar’s Seats
According to Sinar Harian, the status of the Lamag state seat is now in the hands of the Election Commission (EC).
Former Petagas assemblyman Datuk James Ligunjang explained that Bung Moktar had not yet been sworn in before the Sabah Speaker, meaning the Speaker cannot declare the seat vacant.
Because of that, only the EC has the authority to decide whether Lamag will go through a by-election or another form of resolution.
On Bung Moktar’s Kinabatangan parliamentary seat, James said the federal government’s term ends in 2027, with the next general election due before or latest by 20 November 2027.
With less than two years remaining in the term, the law states that a by-election is not required. However, in this case, the final decision rests with the Dewan Rakyat Speaker.
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