BY TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH
KOTA KINABALU, Dec 5 — Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, a veteran Sabah politician, six-term Member of Parliament for Kinabatangan and Chairman of Barisan Nasional (BN) Sabah, passed away in the early hours of Friday at a private hospital in Kota Kinabalu. He was 66.
His death was confirmed by his son, Naim Kurniawan Moktar, in a Facebook post early Friday morning.
“With deep sorrow, we announce that our beloved father, Moktar bin Radin, passed away on December 5, 2025, at 1.46am (14 Jamadilakhir 1447H),” he wrote, adding an appeal for prayers for his late father.
As of 3.10am, Bung Moktar’s remains were being transported to his residence in Damai, Kota Kinabalu as family members, supporters and political figures gathered to pay their respects.
Born in Kampung Bilit, Sukau, Kinabatangan, Bung Moktar rose from rural beginnings to become one of the most recognisable figures in Sabah’s political life. He entered Parliament in 1999 and went on to represent Kinabatangan for more than two decades, becoming synonymous with the constituency.
He later assumed leadership of UMNO in Sabah and became Chairman of BN Sabah, emerging as a central figure during one of the most turbulent periods in the state’s political history. Between 2020 and 2023, he served as Sabah’s Deputy Chief Minister I and State Works Minister, during which he oversaw infrastructure and development initiatives, particularly in rural areas.
Widely known among supporters as “Panglima,” Bung Moktar was famed for his blunt, uncompromising style and fiery political persona. His rallying cry “Radu Tatap Radu” — loosely translated as “Fight on, no matter the battle” — became a personal hallmark reflecting his combative approach to leadership.
While supporters admired him as a straight-talking leader who stood firmly for Sabah’s interests, critics viewed him as controversial and fiercely combative. Yet even political opponents acknowledged his resilience and staying power in a political career that spanned generations.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim led tributes, extending condolences to the family and recalling Bung Moktar as a “firm, principled and outspoken” figure who had long stood in defence of the people’s interests.
“As a long-time friend, I remember Allahyarham as a steadfast figure in politics. His service and commitment to Sabah and the nation will continue to be cherished,” Anwar said in a Facebook post, adding prayers for strength for the family and forgiveness and mercy for the late leader.
Tributes also poured in from across party lines, reflecting the deep imprint Bung Moktar left on Sabah’s political landscape.
He is survived by his wives Datin Seri Nor Asidah Alimudin and Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, and seven children.
With his passing, Sabah draws the curtain on a political era shaped by one of its most forceful and enduring personalities.
Al-Fatihah.
- TNS NEWS