KINABATANGAN: Thirty-six polling centres with 117 streams for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections opened simultaneously at 7.30am today.
According to the Election Commission (EC), two centres will close at noon, with the remaining 34 shutting in stages from 1pm to 5.30pm, as 48,282 voters cast their ballots to choose a new Kinabatangan MP and Lamag assemblyman.
The tallying of votes will take place at Dewan Sri Lamag, with official results expected to be announced at 10pm. A total of 1,106 EC staff, along with 926 police officers and personnel, are involved in both by-elections.
A total of 176 police personnel, representing 93 per cent of official early voters, cast their ballots for both by-elections on Tuesday, the EC added.
Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar of Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan) and Goldam Hamid (Independent) are contesting the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat, while Mohd Ismail Ayob (BN) faces Mazliwati Abdul Malek (Warisan) for the Lamag state seat.
All five candidates will cast their votes today: Mohd Kurniawan Naim at SK Bilit, Saddi at SK Batu Puteh, Goldam at SK Pekan Tongod, Mohd Ismail at SK Bukit Garam II, and Mazliwati at SK Buang Sayang.
The incumbent of both seats, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, died on Dec 5 last year at the age of 66, having won the Kinabatangan seat in the 15th general election with a 4,330 majority and the Lamag seat on Nov 29 during the Sabah state election with a majority of 153 votes.– BERNAMA
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