KUALA LUMPUR, Dec. 5 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has conveyed his condolences to the family of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, following the veteran Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leader's death early this morning.

Bung Moktar, the long-serving Kinabatangan MP and Sabah BN chairman, died at a private hospital in Kota Kinabalu at 1.46am. He was 66.

His son, Naim Kurniawan Moktar, confirmed the death when contacted by reporters.

In a Facebook post, Anwar described Bung as a forceful and steadfast presence in Malaysian politics.

"Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the entire family of the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman, Kinabatangan MP and Lamag assembly...