A heartfelt remark from the late Bung Moktar Radin to a party colleague has resurfaced after his sudden death yesterday.
In a viral video, Sepanggar Umno chief Yakub Khan revealed Bung personally urged him to contest Karambunai despite Yakub’s wish to step down. “Boss, please find someone else, I want to rest,” Yakub had told both Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Bung.
A Plea That Became a Farewell
Bung rejected the request, telling Yakub, “No, let this be our last election together.” Yakub eventually contested the seat under Barisan Nasional but lost to Perikatan Nasional’s Aliakbar Gulasan. Meanwhile, Bung narrowly defended his Lamag seat with a 153-vote majority just six days before passing away.
Battling Illness Until the End
Bung appeared visibly weak throughout the campaign and was reportedly unwell in the final days. His brother-in-law, actor Shaheizy Sam, who helped during the Lamag campaign, said Bung pushed through exhaustion to meet voters.
The veteran Umno leader died at 1.46am yesterday at Gleneagles Hospital Kota Kinabalu from kidney failure and a lung infection.
He was laid to rest at Kampung Likas Muslim cemetery after funeral prayers at Kota Kinabalu City Mosque. Bung’s death marks the end of a long political journey that strengthened Umno’s foothold in Sabah.
