Kota kinabalu: Kinabatangan Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who was also the Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, passed away at a private hospital at 1.46 am today. He was 66.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, his son, Naim Kurniawan Moktar, informed reporters of his father's passing but did not provide further details on the cause of death. Naim Kurniawan, Bung Moktar's second child, requested prayers for his father's soul, hoping it is blessed and placed among the righteous.

Bung Moktar was also the Lamag state assemblyman and was hospitalized before his passing. The Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman was among those who visited him in the hospital. In the recent 17th Sabah State Election, Bung Moktar successfully retained the Lamag seat with a majority of 153 votes, having won the seat at previous state polls.

He initially won the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat in the 10th General Election in November 1999 and served as the constituency's MP for six terms. Born on September 15, 1959, in Sukau, Kinabatangan, Bung Moktar leaves behind his two wives, Datin Seri Nor Asidah Alimuddin and Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, and seven children.