Sabah Umno Identifies 4 Likely Names For Kinabatangan Lamag Polls

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Sabah Umno has identified up to four potential candidates to contest the Kinabatangan parliamentary and the Lamag state seats, which fell vacant following the death of Bung Moktar Radin.
Sabah Umno chief Jaffry Ariffin said the party has yet to make a final decision on its candidates, although names had been identified internally.
“We have identified several people as potential candidates. There are three or four names, but we will wait for the appropriate time to announce them,” he said in his first presser as Sabah Umno chief in Kota Kinabalu last night.
Bung died on Dec 5 at 66 while undergoing treatment for a severe lung infection at Gleneagles Hospital in Kota Kinabalu, shortly after winning the Lamag seat in the recent Sabah state election.
Bung retained Lamag by a mere 153 votes in a six-cornered fight.
The Election Commission had since set Jan 24 for by-elections in Kinabatangan and Lamag.
New faces
Meanwhile, Jaffry, who is also Sukau assemblyperson, said Umno would be fielding new faces for the by-elections.
On the timing of the candidate announcement, Jaffry said Umno was expected to finalise its decision close to nomination day, which is set for Jan 10.
“Most likely it will be about one week before nomination day,” the Sabah tourism, culture and environment minister added.
He said the party was confident it could improve its majority in Lamag and defend the Kinabatangan seat, long regarded as a BN stronghold.
In a Bernama report, Jafry announced that Salleh Said Keruak is retained as Sabah Umno treasurer, while Nik Nadzri Nik Zawawi has been appointed information chief, and Harun Durabi as assistant secretary. - Mkini

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