STRENGTHENING the tourism sector and establishing a cultural centre grounded in historical heritage and local identity will be among the main priorities of Mohd Ismail Ayob if he is elected as the Lamag state assemblyman.
The Barisan Nasional candidate for the Lamag by-election said Pengkalan Bukit Garam should be transformed from a mere transit point into an economic growth engine capable of generating sustainable income for local communities.
“At present, tourists are concentrated in Lokan and Tanjung Bulat, but we want Pengkalan Bukit Garam to become a tourism centre with a cultural hub so visitors will also stop here,” he said.
“Pengkalan Bukit Garam was the original administrative centre before it moved to its current location. This place has its own historical value and deserves to be developed as a tourism attraction,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.
Mohd Ismail, 44, who is widely known as Miha, said Pengkalan Bukit Garam was once the economic heart and first administrative centre of the district until the 1980s, before its role shifted to a more systematic and strategically located area near the main road.
Located about 18 kilometres from Kota Kinabatangan town, Pengkalan Bukit Garam remains a key gateway for domestic and international tourists heading to nearby ecotourism sites, particularly via boat services along the Kinabatangan River.
He said the proposed initiatives aim to maximise the economic spillover from tourist arrivals, encouraging visitors not only to stop at the jetty but also to stay in homestays and participate in cultural festivals.
According to Mohd Ismail, the approach would directly create job opportunities while showcasing the customs and traditional cuisine of the Orang Sungai community and other groups in the Lamag constituency.
On cultural development, he said the proposed cultural centre would serve as a focal venue for organising various cultural festivals, while also acting as a platform to foster unity among the diverse communities in the area.
Beyond tourism and culture, Mohd Ismail stressed that sports infrastructure is also a key agenda, including the construction of a mini sports complex to support youth development.
He said proper and accessible sports facilities are vital for nurturing young talent, alongside efforts to improve basic infrastructure such as roads, clean water supply and electricity in several localities that continue to face constraints, in order to enhance residents’ quality of life.
In education, he pledged to address the issue of dilapidated schools in Lamag in a holistic manner, including proposals to relocate schools such as the one in Kampung Balat to safer locations. This, he said, would spare pupils from having to cross rivers by boat daily to attend classes.
The Lamag state by-election sees Mohd Ismail facing a challenge from Warisan’s Mazliwati Abdul Malek. Meanwhile, the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election features a three-cornered contest between Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar of Barisan Nasional, Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman of Warisan and independent candidate Goldam Hamid.
Both by-elections were called following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, aged 66, on Dec 5 last year. The Election Commission has set polling day for Jan 24, with early voting scheduled for Jan 20. - January 15, 2026
