Still sore from Sabah bruising, PN to skip by-elections

Still sore from Sabah bruising, PN to skip by-elections


Published: Dec 10, 2025 4:31 PM
Updated: 7:31 PM



Still reeling from its heavy losses in the Sabah state election, Perikatan Nasional has decided to sit out the by-elections for the Lamag state seat and the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat, which fell vacant following the death of BN chairperson Bung Moktar Radin.

PN deputy chairperson Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the decision was made after a top leadership meeting of the coalition in Kuala Lumpur last night.

“This matter was discussed last night, and we have decided not to field candidates for the by-elections.

“However, PN will continue to monitor the developments and the candidates contesting in them,” he told a press conference in Kuantan, Pahang, today.

PN, which is embroiled in an internal leadership tussle with certain factions calling for its chairperson and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to step aside in favour of opposition leader Hamzah Zainuddin, suffered defeats in 41 of the 42 seats it contested in the Sabah polls.

Yesterday, the Election Commission (EC) announced that it will hold a special meeting on Dec 16 to decide on the dates for the Kinabatangan and Lamag by-elections.

EC Secretary Khairul Shahril Idrus said the commission had received official notification from the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Johari Abdul, and the Sabah state assembly speaker, Kadzim Yahya, regarding the vacancies.

Bung Moktar Radin during polling day for the Sabah state election on Nov 29. The veteran politician died on Dec 5, less than a week after winning Lamag.


Bung, 66, died at a hospital in Sabah on Dec 5, less than a week after being re-elected as the Lamag assemblyperson for his second term.

The veteran politician had narrowly retained the state constituency in a six-cornered contest, winning by a razor-thin majority of just 153 votes.

PAS’ first win in Sabah

Meanwhile, Tuan Ibrahim, who is also PAS deputy president, highlighted the party’s first-ever victory in Sabah, where PN secured its sole seat in the state.

Karambunai rep Aliakbar Gulasan


PAS candidate Aliakbar Gulasan won the Karambunai state seat with a majority of 371 votes in an 11-cornered contest.

Tuan Ibrahim expressed gratitude to the voters for supporting their candidate, saying, “This proves the acceptance of the people of Sabah towards the principles and struggle represented by PAS and PN.”