Polling Stations Open for Kinabatangan and Lamag By-Elections

KUALA LUMPUR – Voting officially commenced this morning for the Kinabatangan Parliamentary and Lamag State by-elections, with 36 polling centers opening their doors at 7:30 AM.

According to the Election Commission (EC), a total of 117 polling streams have been established to facilitate the process for 48,282 registered voters. While most stations will remain open until 5:30 PM, several smaller centers in remote areas are scheduled to close earlier, starting from 12:00 PM.

The by-elections were triggered following the passing of the long-serving incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, on December 5 last year.

Multi-Cornered Contests

The battle for the Kinabatangan Parliamentary seat features a three-way race between:

• Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar (Barisan Nasional)
• Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan)
• Goldam Hamid (Independent)

Meanwhile, the Lamag State seat sees a straight head-to-head fight between Barisan Nasional’s Mohd Ismail Ayob and Warisan’s Mazliwati Abdul Malek.

Smooth Operations and Security

To ensure a seamless voting process, the EC has deployed 1,106 personnel across the district. Security is also a top priority, with 926 police officers stationed at various locations to maintain public order.

Earlier this week, the EC reported a high turnout for early voting, with 93% of eligible police personnel casting their ballots on Tuesday at the Kinabatangan District Police Headquarters.

Official results are expected to be announced by 10:00 PM tonight at the Sri Lamag Hall counting center. This election is seen as a crucial litmus test for the political landscape in eastern Sabah as parties vie to fill the void left by one of the region’s most prominent political figures.