BN’s Naim Moktar vows to upgrade rural roads, help fishermen with marketing, and create youth centres if elected in the Kinabatangan by-election.
KINABATANGAN: Barisan Nasional candidate Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar has outlined his core pledges for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election.
He vowed to focus on upgrading unsatisfactory rural road access in areas like Karamuak to improve residents’ daily lives and local economies.
The candidate, known as Naim Moktar, said this continues efforts begun by the late incumbent and his father, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin.
His next priority is empowering the local fishing economy, which faces marketing difficulties and unstable prices.
“After basic infrastructure is completed, the next challenge is to improve the residents’ economy, especially river and sea fishermen,” he said in a statement.
A key manifesto commitment is establishing village-level seafood collection centres to coordinate and market produce.
He believes this will increase the selling value of the catch and provide better income than relying on middlemen.
Naim Moktar also stressed the importance of youth empowerment through a proposal to convert old buildings into youth centres.
He suggested using underutilised party buildings and polling district centres for activities like e-sports and training.
“This proposal includes temporarily converting existing buildings into youth centres,” he said.
He said this would help revitalise the buildings’ role and reduce social ills by providing positive gathering spaces.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is another part of his manifesto to provide skills for youth.
“TVET is highly relevant for young people who may not excel academically but are talented in technical fields,” he said.
He expressed confidence that these initiatives would build a more competitive and progressive rural community.
The by-election sees Naim Moktar facing Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman of Warisan and independent Goldam Hamid.
Polling is set for January 24, following the death of incumbent Bung Moktar on December 5 last year.
