Bung Moktar Radin | |
|---|---|
| بوڠ مختار راضين | |
| Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah I | |
| In office 29 September 2020 – 11 January 2023 | |
| Governor | Juhar Mahiruddin |
| Chief Minister | Hajiji Noor |
| Preceded by | Wilfred Madius Tangau |
| Succeeded by | Jeffrey Kitingan |
| Constituency | Lamag |
| State Minister of Works of Sabah | |
| In office 29 September 2020 – 11 January 2023 | |
| Governor | Juhar Mahiruddin |
| Chief Minister | Hajiji Noor |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Shahelmey Yahya |
| Constituency | Lamag |
| Chairman of theFELCRA Berhad | |
| In office 17 July 2013 – 31 May 2018 | |
| Minister | Najib Razak |
| Chief Executive Officer | Zulkarnain Md Eusope |
| Deputy Chairman of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club | |
| In office 18 April 2008 – 26 July 2018 | |
| Chairman | Tiong King Sing (2008–2013) Shahrir Abdul Samad (2013–2018) |
| Preceded by | Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of theSabah State Legislative Assembly forLamag | |
| In office 26 September 2020 – 5 December 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Mohd Ismail Ayob |
| Majority | |
| Member of theMalaysian Parliament forKinabatangan | |
| In office 29 November 1999 – 5 December 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Juhar Mahiruddin (BN–UMNO) |
| Succeeded by | Naim Moktar (BN–UMNO) |
| Majority | |
| State Chairman of Barisan Nasional ofSabah | |
| In office 18 August 2020 – 5 December 2025 | |
| National Chairman | Ahmad Zahid Hamidi |
| Preceded by | Musa Aman |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Joseph Kurup |
| State Chairman of the United Malays National Organisation of Sabah | |
| In office 12 December 2018 – 5 December 2025 | |
| President | Ahmad Zahid Hamidi |
| Deputy | Yakub Khan (2018–2023) Abdul Rahman Dahlan (2023–2025) |
| Preceded by | Musa Aman |
| Succeeded by | Jafry Ariffin |
| Faction represented inDewan Rakyat | |
| 1999–2025 | Barisan Nasional |
| Faction represented in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly | |
| 2020–2025 | Barisan Nasional |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bung Moktar bin Radin (1959-09-15)15 September 1959 |
| Died | 5 December 2025(2025-12-05) (aged 66) Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia |
| Resting place | Kampung Likas Muslim Cemetery, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia[1] |
| Nationality |  Malaysia |
| Party |
|
| Other political affiliations | Barisan Nasional (BN)(1990–2025) |
| Spouses |
|
| Relations | Shaheizy Sam(brother-in-law) |
| Children | 9, includingNaim Moktar |
| Education | Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (MPhil) |
| Occupation | |
Bung Moktar bin Radin (15 September 1959 – 5 December 2025) was aMalaysianpolitician who served asMember of Parliament (MP) forKinabatangan from 1999 until his death in December 2025. A member and former State Chief ofUMNO Sabah, he served as theDeputy Chief Minister I ofSabah from 2020 to 2023, and representedLamag in theSabah State Legislative Assembly from 2020 until his death.
Born inKinabatangan, Sabah, Bung graduated fromUniversiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and later worked ascivil servant before joining politics. An influential figure in Sabah politics, he was the Chairman of SabahBarisan Nasional and theUnited Malays National Organisation in Sabah from 2018 to 2025, and the Deputy Chairman of theBarisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) from 2008 to 2018.
Bung Moktar was born in Sukau,Kinabatangan. He attended Kampung Bilit National Primary School, Sandakan National Secondary School, and UKM. He held aMaster of Philosophy in Policy Analysis and Security from the latter insitution.[2]
Before becoming a Member of Parliament, Bung Moktar served with the SandakanSpecial Affairs Department (JASA) branch office from 1987 to 1990, and later worked for theMajlis Amanah Rakyat from 1990 to 1992.[3]
Bung Moktar was initially a member of theUnited Sabah National Organisation (USNO), serving as the Youth Chief of itsKinabatangan division from 1979 to 1990. He retained this role when the party became the Sabahan branch of thepeninsular-basedUMNO, and later became Sabah UMNO's Youth Information Chief. From 1994 to 1999, he served asPolitical Secretary to the Minister of Finance of Sabah .[4] In 1996, he became the Division Chief of Kinabatangan.[5]
He first stood as a candidate in the1994 Sabah state election forKuamut, an opposition stronghold at that time, and lost.[6] He stood in the1999 general election and became the member of parliament for Kinabatangan. He retained the seat in the2004,2008,2013,2018, and2022 general elections.[7]
Over the course of his political career, Bung Moktar earned a reputation for controversy.[8] Hisgaffes have been popularly referred to as "bung-le"s.[9][10]
In 2008, he referred to opposition politicianKarpal Singh as a "big monkey" after Singh referred to him as "Bigfoot" in response to Bung Moktar interrupting him.[11] He also called on Karpal, who was aparaplegic, to "Stand up if (he) dare!".[10]
In 2007, while debating the leak in the ceiling ofthe parliament building, he and fellow member of parliamentMohammad Said Yusof sexually degradedFong Po Kuan, a member of parliament forBatu Gajah. They claimed she "leaked" every month.[12]
Mana ada bocor? Batu Gajah pun bocor tiap-tiap bulan juga!
What leak? Batu Gajah leaks every month!
The pair offered an apology for their statements but were rejected by Fong, who considered them insincere.[12]
In 2014, Bung Moktartweeted "Long liveHitler" followingGermany's7–1 win overBrazil in the2014 FIFA World Cup semi-finals. The tweet attracted international news coverage[14] and was declared "unacceptable" byHolger Michael, a German ambassador to Malaysia.[15]
In 2018, when opposition memberWillie Mongin alleged that he had visited a casino, Bung Moktar responded:
Apa ni, biadab, ini kurang ajar! Samseng! What you want? You nak gaduh dengan saya? Ini time! Fuck you![16]
What is this, this rude and ill-mannered (person)! Gangster! What do you want? You want to fight with me? This is the time! Fuck you!
The incident became aninternet meme focusing on the combination ofMalay language and Bung Moktar'sbroken English.[17]
Previously just a parliamentary backbencher at the federal level, Bung Moktar entered state politics followingBarisan Nasional and UMNO's defeat in the2018 general election, whereupon the party suffered from crippling high-level defections. He took over and restructured the party in Sabah, and was credited with saving the party. He led the party through the2020 Sabah state election, taking part in the formation of the subsequent government. He simultaneously served as one of three deputy chief ministers as well as minister of works.[18][2]
After falling out with chief ministerHajiji Noor, Bung Moktar attempted to engineer a change of government by pulling UMNO's support in the state legislative assembly, resulting in the2023 Sabah political crisis.[19][20] The crisis concluded when five UMNO assemblymen defected to Hajiji's coalition, allowing Hajiji to remain in power.[21] Bung Moktar and UMNO shifted to opposition.[22]
He led the party into the2025 Sabah state election, where it won five seats. It was included in the state government formed by Hajiji. He retained his state seat ofLamag with a majority of 153 votes.[2]
Bung Moktar was in apolygamous marriage to Nor Asidah Alimudin and Zizie Ezette Abdul Samad, and had nine children.[2]
His marriage to his second wife was done without the consent of a marriage registrar, for which he was sentenced to a month's imprisonment. He avoided jail time by paying the fine in lieu.[23]
Bung Moktar reportedly fell ill after filing his nomination papers on 15 November 2025. He was hospitalised but released a few days later. Despite being advised to rest, he returned to campaigning for theSabah state election scheduled for 29 November.[24]
Media outlets reported that Bung Moktar had been hospitalised again on 4 December as a result of a lung infection.[25] He was later revealed to be in critical condition as a result ofkidney failure and a lung infection, and died the next day at Kota Kinabalu Gleneagles Hospital. He was 66.[26]
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | N23Kuamut | Bung Moktar Radin (Sabah UMNO) | 1,449 | 37.24% | Joseph Sitin Saang (PBS) | 2,184 | 56.13% | 3,944 | 735 | 72.34% | ||
| Ali Latip Taha (IND) | 258 | 6.63% | ||||||||||
| 2020 | N58Lamag | Bung Moktar Radin (Sabah UMNO) | 3,035 | 54.06% | Mohd Ismail Ayob (WARISAN) | 2,374 | 31.40% | 5,614 | 661 | 68.81% | ||
| Junny @ Karuak Abdullah (IND) | 73 | 1.47% | ||||||||||
| Razman Mayah (PCS) | 71 | 3.32% | ||||||||||
| Sairin Abd Rahman (PPRS) | 61 | 1.47% | ||||||||||
| 2025 | Bung Moktar Radin (Sabah UMNO) | 3,908 | 39.14% | Mohd Ismail Ayob (IND) | 3,755 | 37.61% | 9,984 | 153 | 72.04% | |||
| Johainizamshah Johari (GAGASAN) | 1,646 | 16.49% | ||||||||||
| Mohd Saifulah Lokman (WARISAN) | 372 | 3.73% | ||||||||||
| Mazlin Madali (Sabah BERSATU) | 258 | 2.58% | ||||||||||
| Salahuddin Anoi (IMPIAN) | 45 | 0.45% | ||||||||||
| Year | Constituency | Candidate | Votes | Pct | Opponent(s) | Votes | Pct | Ballots cast | Majority | Turnout | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | P162Kinabatangan | Bung Moktar Radin (Sabah UMNO) | 8,141 | 65.72% | Ali Latip Taha (PBS) | 4,246 | 34.28% | 12,597 | 3,895 | 58.84% | |||
| 2004 | P187Kinabatangan | Bung Moktar Radin (Sabah UMNO) | Unopposed | ||||||||||
| 2008 | Bung Moktar Radin (Sabah UMNO) | 8,507 | 69.71% | Ahmad Abdul (PKR) | 2,181 | 17.87% | 12,792 | 6,326 | 65.53% | ||||
| Dasim @ Ricky Jikah (IND) | 1,515 | 12.41% | |||||||||||
| 2013 | Bung Moktar Radin (Sabah UMNO) | 13,377 | 69.29% | Abdullah Abdul Sani (PKR) | 3,646 | 18.89% | 19,960 | 9,731 | 80.80% | ||||
| Yambuya Parantis @ Cyril Pongod (STAR) | 1,153 | 12.41% | |||||||||||
| Ali Latip Taha (IND) | 1,130 | 5.85% | |||||||||||
| 2018 | Bung Moktar Radin (Sabah UMNO) | 14,465 | 67.22% | Ghazali Abdul Ghani (WARISAN) | 4,987 | 23.18% | 22,179 | 9,478 | 77.47% | ||||
| Mustapa Datu Tambuyong (PHRS) | 2,066 | 9.60% | |||||||||||
| 2022 | Bung Moktar Radin (Sabah UMNO) | 16,842 | 57.43% | Mazliwati Abdul Malek (WARISAN) | 12,512 | 42.62% | 29,882 | 4,330 | 65.56% | ||||
Sabah
Grand Commander of theOrder of Kinabalu (SPDK) –Datuk Seri Panglima (2021)[32]
Commander of theOrder of Kinabalu (PGDK) –Datuk (2001)[33]
Pahang
Grand Knight of theOrder of Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang (SSAP) –Dato' Sri (2016)[34]
