Sandakan: Basic facilities provided at Pulau Tanjung Aru today, including a concrete bridge, 24-hour electricity, and clean water, are among the most significant changes in the island community's lives, according to locals. They said the facilities are a testament to the service and legacy of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who served Kinabatangan for over two decades.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, a resident, Sulaiman Jafar, 72, remarked on the vast improvements in daily life, with basic facilities replacing reliance on natural resources and limited infrastructure. In the past, residents had to carry water three kilometers from a natural source. "Before, we only had a wooden bridge, and the electricity would go off at 12.30 am. Now, it's much better, electricity is available 24 hours, and the water supply is reliable. We used to fetch water from the waterfall at 5 am," he shared.
Sulaiman expressed deep appreciation for the late Kinabatangan MP and former Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman's dedication to Pulau Tanjung Aru's over 2,000 residents. He recalled receiving fishing gear, including outboard motors, which significantly boosted the community's income and living standards. As a fisherman earning RM1,000 to RM3,000 a month, he attested to the substantial impact past aid has had on the island community's daily life.
Another resident, 76-year-old Abdul Samad Hamad, also acknowledged the island's transformation, emphasizing the provision of clean water and round-the-clock electricity as among Bung Moktar's greatest contributions. "He did a lot for the island. the lights now stay on 24 hours, and clean water is piped from Sandakan under the sea. That was his own initiative," he noted.
Many Pulau Tanjung Aru residents hope Bung Moktar's legacy of service and people-first leadership will continue through his son, Mohd Kurniawan Naim, who is contesting the Kinabatangan by-election for BN. "My hope is that they follow his ways. Don't favour the rich over the poor, and help anyone in need. That's what we expect from the successor," Abdul Samad stated.
Despite sharing a name with Kota Kinabalu's Tanjung Aru resort, Pulau Tanjung Aru in eastern Sabah is a traditional fishing village, not a tourist spot. Located three nautical miles (5.5 km) from Sandakan and reachable only by boat, the village is home to Sabah's Brunei ethnic minority.
Bung Moktar, who had served as Kinabatangan MP since 1999 and Lamag assemblyman, passed away at 66 on December 5, last year. The Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election saw a three-way contest between Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar (BN), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan), and Goldam Hamid (Independent), while the Lamag state by-election featured a straight fight between Mohd Ismail Ayob (BN) and Mazliwati Abdul Malek (Warisan). The EC has set a 14-day campaign period until 11.59 pm on January 23, with early voting and polling on January 20 and January 24, respectively.