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KOTA KINABALU – Follow The Vibes for live reports as Sabahans decide their political future:
12.18pm: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's thanked Sabahans for voting for the Gabung Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition.
"As for the elected representatives, this is the time for all of you to fulfil the promises listed in our manifesto," he said.
11.46pm: Official figures released by the Election Commission (EC) confirms GRS victory as they reach the magical 37.
11.31pm: Crowds swell at Shafie's residence, while Bung claims simple majority.
11.01pm: PBS could emerge as CM-decider in Sabah. Read our report here
10.56pm: Warisan's vice president Peter Anthony and Upko's president Madius Tangau arrive at Shafie's residence. Crowds swell at Shafie Apdal's residence. Shouts of 'Warisan Bermaruah' can be heard near Shafie's residence.
10.48pm: There has been a shift in mood at Shafie Apdal's residence as supporters arrive shouting "Warisan menang! Warisan menang!". This is despite the GRS leadership having announced victory in the state election.
Wira Warisan exco member Tsabbit Aqdamana alleged that pro-PN and BN media were causing confusion leading to claims of unofficial results putting GRS on course to a victory.
10.21pm: PCS president Anifah Aman loses contest for Bongawan seat, reports Bernama.
9.42pm: Kapayan rep Jannie Lasimbang, Sabah PKR chief Datuk Christina Liew and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman arrive at Shafie’s private residence.
9.35pm: Datuk Christina Liew (Warisan) wins Api-Api.
9.30pm: A press conference was to be called at 9pm at Shafie’s residence but half an hour on, there are no signs of the Warisan president yet.
9.30pm: Sabah Umno’s Bung Moktar says the GRS alliance will iron out all the issues as soon as possible, including who will be chief minister.
When asked what are the issues, Bung said: “Problems will only become problems when you create them.”
“We will ensure that the soon-to-be-formed government will be an honest one. That which will continue to champion the people's plight.”
He also said the chief minister position will be negotiated among GRS allies.
“I am confident that this new government will be built on our camaraderie.”
9.20pm: BN’s Datuk Ahmad Maslan declares the fall of the Warisan Plus government after the GRS coalition wins 37 seats.
The BN+PN+PBS alliance lost in Bongawan, Sekong.
The reps are instructed to gather at Ming Garden Hotel next door.
9.14pm in Rumah Yayasan Sabah: Things are rather sedate and sombre at Shafie’s residence due to the unofficial win by opponent GRS. Shafie as Warisan president has yet to come out of his home to address supporters and reporters waiting in the compound.
9.11pm: GRS wins 37 seats, the simple majority needed to win the state election.
9.08pm in Sembulan: Datuk Seri Najib Razak arrives at the Sabah Umno office here. Najib was at the PN base in Magellan Sutera Harbour.
9.04pm: Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif (PN) wins Membakut.
8.59pm: Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi (Warisan) wins Segama.
8.56pm: Jaujan Sambakong (Warisan) wins Sulabayan.
8.50pm: Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia (Usno) wins Pintasan.
8.50pm: Unofficial – GRS wins 35, Warisan Plus 20, and others 4.
8.40pm: Sabah DAP is taking the lead in four of the seven seats the party contested under the Warisan logo.
Sabah DAP acting chairman Frankie Poon who is contesting in Tg Papat garnered 5,900 votes and trailing close is PN candidate Ken Yong.
Luyang DAP rep Ginger Phoong Jin Zhe said he is honoured to be re-elected again, after knowing that he has garnered over 50% of the votes.
Unofficial results show that Phoong garnered 15,138 votes against PN rival Gee Tien Siong who got 988 votes.
Unofficial tally in Elopura shows DAP's Calvin Chong Ket Kiun garnering 10,821 votes while BN's Chan Boon Thian got 3,188 votes.
Likas incumbent Tan Lee Fatt of DAP captured a mammoth lead with 6,804 votes against BN's Dr Chang Ker Ying who got 584 votes.
DAP newcomer Justin Wong Yun Bin captured the Sri Tanjong seat with 11,150 votes. He is the son of Sabah DAP adviser Jimmy Wong.
8.38pm: James Ratib (BN) wins Sugut.
8.35pm: Masiung Banah (Independent) wins Kuamut.
8.35pm: Jahid Jahim (PBS) wins Tamparuli.
8.35pm in Kinabatangan: BN’s Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin wins Lamag seat.
8.32pm: Joniston Bangkuai (PBS) wins Kiulu.
8.31pm: Datuk Jeffrey Kitingan (Sabah Star) wins Tambunan.
8.30pm: Masidi Manjun (PN wins Karanaan.
8.23pm: Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor of BN wins Sulaman.
8.21pm: BN’s Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak wins Usukan.
8.15pm: Samad Jambri (PN-Bersatu) wins Labuk, first official EC result.
8.07pm in Sook: PKR youth chief Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, in a tweet, concedes the party’s defeat in the Sook seat. BN’s Bonepes Been wins with a majority of 4,485 votes.
8.10pm in Kota Kinabalu: Unofficial results see DAP losing Bingkor but leading in Likas, Luyang, Kapayan, Elopura, Tg Papat and Sri Tanjong.
8pm: GRS wins 19 seats, unofficially.
8pm in Kota Kinabalu: Pejuang pro-tem president and former Kedah MB Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir seen arriving at Shafie’s private residence.
7.45pm in Semporna: Unofficially, Warisan swept all three state seats, Sulabayan, Senallang, Bugaya, in the constituency.
6.40pm in Kota Kinabalu: MyUndi unofficial results shows Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) holding a slim lead.
6.10pm in Kota Kinabalu: Riot police are stationed at the Istana gates near Padang Merdeka. One of the officers told The Vibes that the police are on standby in case of any disturbances.
No signs of supporters gathering in the area at the time of reporting.
Four police trucks with about 30 officers have been deployed. An officer, who spoke on anonymity, says they are deployed to both entrances of the palace in Kota Kinabalu.
5.50pm in Kota Kinabalu: The Election Commission has a livestream of the counting process on Facebook.
5.15pm in Kuala Lumpur: Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kunak dan Semporna are Covid-19 red zones.
He says a total of 82 new infections have been recorded in Malaysia today, of that 64 are in Sabah. He advises Sabahans to adhere to the health SOPs.
4.40pm in Kota Kinabalu: Warisan expects to win Banggi after leading in 10 of 14 voting centres on the island.
Incumbent Mohamad Mohamarin is facing six contenders – Akram Ismail (BN), Datu Amir Kahar Datu Mustapha (Independent), Salbin Muksin (Usno), Miasin Nusiri (Independent), Kamri Kail (PCS) and Abdul Aziz Amir Bangsah (PPRS).
It is also learnt Sook PKR candidate Raymond Ahuar is leading in four of the 12 voting centres.
Ahuar is going up against incumbent Ellron Angin (PN), Rebecca Taimin (Parti Cinta Sabah), Bonepes Been (BN) and Aning Ansawang (LDP).
4pm: Caretaker chief minister and Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, in a video posted on Twitter, calls on Sabahans who have yet to cast their ballots to do so before polling closes at 5pm. He reminds voters to abide by health and safety SOPs at polling stations.
3.55pm: EC says voter turnout stood at 58% as at 3pm.
3:41pm in Membakut: Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president Datuk Seri Anifah Aman arrives at the SK Kg Brunei polling centre in Kg Pimping. He is accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Siti Rubiah Abdul Samad.
Anifah is in a four-way fight for the Bongawan state seat, with his rivals being Warisan’s Dr Daud Yusof, Ag Lahap Ag Bakar @ Ag Syairin (BN) and Mohd Azree Abd Ghani (Liberal Democratic Party). This is the first time Anifah is contesting a state seat.
Bongawan, which has 16,735 voters, falls under the Kimanis parliamentary constituency, which Anifah won in the 2018 general election.
He quit Umno in September 2018, and became PCS president in July this year. PCS is the only party to contest all 73 state seats in today’s polls.
3.15pm: A total of 193 police reports have been lodged in relation to the Sabah election campaign, Bernama quotes state police commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali as saying.
“Fifty-eight investigation papers have been opened, and many of them are under Section 500 of the Penal Code (for slander) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (for improper use of network facilities or services).”
2.57pm: All employees of agencies under the Communications and Multimedia Ministry who are involved in the Sabah election have been ordered to undergo Covid-19 screening upon their return to the peninsula, Bernama reports Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah as saying.
2.56pm: Voter turnout as at 2pm stood at 54%, reports the EC.
2.17pm: More than 100 people suspected of having dual citizenship have been turned away after trying to vote, Bernama reports the Sabah police chief as saying.
2.15pm in Sandakan: Voting was disrupted for about 20 minutes at a polling station here due to a fire sparked by faulty electrical wiring, says EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh.
He says a fan in the hall for voting streams 1 and 2 caught fire, but the situation is under control.
A political party’s booth has been dismantled for violating election rules, as it was too close to a polling station, he adds.
A party flag has also been removed for the same offence.
2pm: Voter turnout stood at 48% as of 1pm, says the EC. The commission expects a turnout of 70% to 75% by the time polling stations close at 5pm.
1.48pm: PN’s candidate in Tambunan, Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, predicts a lower turnout in his constituency over coronavirus concerns.
“I expect a lower turnout because of Covid-19 fears. This morning, I noticed that voters were complying with the standard operating procedure. The weather is wonderful.”
He hopes more people will come out to cast their ballots.
1pm in Pitas: BN’s Pitas candidate, Sufian Abdul Karim, announces on Facebook that he has tested positive for Covid-19.
“I, Sufian Abdul Karim, BN candidate in N.03 Pitas, have just received (my) Covid-19 test result, and I was found to be positive.
“I would like to apologise to all voters, officials, volunteers, family and friends who have helped me throughout the campaign.”
12.58pm: Voter turnout as of noon was at 41%, according to the EC.
12.55pm in Penampang: Warisan’s Moyog candidate, Datuk Darell Leiking, says he has not heard anything about leaders leaving the party.
“We don’t know about this matter. People usually come and go. We wish them luck if it’s true, but we hope it’s not true,” he says after voting at SK Sugud.
12.52pm: The hashtags #PRNSabah, #SabahMemilih and #SabahBangkit are used by voters posting about the polls on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
12.30pm in Papar: Photos of a suspected illegal immigrant trying to vote have gone viral. It is understood that the man, whose address is listed as Telipok on his MyKad, tried to cast his ballot in a KDM-majority area.
The Vibes is trying to confirm at which polling station the incident occurred.
12pm: EC recorded a 32% at by 11am. Its chairman has urged voters to continue adhering to the health SOPs.
11.55am in Luyang: DAP’s Luyang candidate Ginger Phoong greets voters at Peak Nam Tong voting centre.
He told reporters of a little hiccup at Institut Perguruan Gaya where some voting streams had to be separated due to overcrowding.
However, this caused trouble for senior citizens as they had to make their way downhill.
“We had to resolved it with the Election Commission. We asked their permission for a van shuttle service for the elderly.”
The Luyang incumbent said his constituency has good turnout after he visted three voting centres. He is confident of retaining his seat.
11.50am in Kota Kinabalu: PBS’ Api-Api candidate Datuk Yee Moh Chai at SRJK Chung Hwa.
11.44am in Likas: It was packed with voters at the SMK Likas polling station when the polls opened at 8am according to the police officers on duty. Number of voters started slowing down by noon as they walked to the polling stations without queue. Strict SOPs were observed upon entry.
Likas constituency is a Chinese majority seat with about 15,000 voters, seeing five-cornered contest between BN, Warisan, Usno, Parti Cinta Sabah and PGRS.
11.30am in Tuaran: Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan done voting at SK Serusup.
11.14am in Tuaran: Warisan candidate for Sulaman Datuk Aliasgar Basri done voting at SK Serusup.
11.15am in Kinabatangan: Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, who is also Lamag seat candidate, completes his voting process in SMK Bukit Garam.
11am in Sandakan: Former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman done voting in SK Sg Manila. He claimed in July that he had majority support in the state assembly, triggering then chief minister Shafie to call for a snap election.
His voting process only took five minutes.
He thanked the Election Commission personnel on duty and media present before leaving the centre.
Musa, who is incumbent for Sg Sibuga, was voting in Sg Manila, one of the 13 new state seats in this election.
10.55am in Kota Kinabalu: EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh visiting SMK Sanzac to observe the polling process.
10.47am in Kota Kinabalu: DAP’s candidate for Luyang Ginger Phoong votes at SM Kota Kinabalu.
10.44am in Tuaran: Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau casting his vote at SMK Tun Fuad Stephens here. He is also contesting in the Kiulu state seat.
Speaking to the media, Tangau urged voters to come out in full swing and advised them not to listen to rumours that the electoral process is dangerous.
“I urged voters to come out as the time is still early. We have until 5pm to cast our votes.
“Don’t listen to rumours. Be assured that all the health SOPs are being followed.”
10.40am in Kota Kinabalu: Nestled amid the bustling city, Kg Sembulan is brightened up with party flags since the start of the campaign. Fishing boats are anchored by the side of the river with a big banner saying “Pertahankan Warisan” (Defend Warisan).
10.30am in Tuaran: Sabah Bersatu chief Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor, who is contesting in Sulaman, says he is satisfied with EC’s handling of the voting process.
“I am glad that the SOPs are well carried out. EC officers have made sure that everyone follows the health guidelines,” he said after casting his ballot at SK Serusup.
10.30am in Inanam: A couple of men have been told to go for health screening after getting their temperatures checked at SK Darau. An ambulance is seen parked at the school compound. Police have denied the press entry to the voting hall.
10.29am in Kota Kinabalu: Sabah PKR chief and Api-Api incumbent Datuk Christina Liew, who is facing a nine-cornered fight, cast her ballot at SK Sacred Heart. She had visited three voting centres earlier.
She told reporters that she hopes all will go well with Warisan Plus but admitted that there are some teething problems with the voting process.
“There are teething problems but have settled down. I hope the weather holds up.”
She also voiced her confidence that most of the Warisan Plus candidates will win.
When asked if PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s PM takeover announcement has any impact here, Liew said she is not certain.
10.20am in Semporna: Shafie checking out other polling stations in town here.
10.15am in Sandakan: Warisan candidate for Sg Manila Dr Mahmud Suddin votes at SK Sg Manila.
10.14am in Kota Kinabalu: EC chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh observing the election process at SJKC Chung Hwa.
10.12am in Kota Kinabalu: Voters queuing up to cast their ballots at SK Sacred Heart.
10.10am in Tuaran: Sabah PN chairman Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor cast his ballot at SK Serusup.
10.05am in Inanam: Party volunteers giving out free food, face masks and assisting voters here.
10am in Membakut: Election Commission personnel bringing out cartons of bottled water to be distributed to voters lining up under the sun after an ambulance had to be rushed into the polling centre at Sekolah Kg Brunei after a voter fainted.
10am in Inanam: Voters running across Jalan Inanam-Menggatal to get to SK Darau here. Darau is one of the 13 new state seats contested today.
9.46am in Inanam: Three women taking a selfie in front of SK Lok Yuk after casting their ballots here.
9.45am in Kota Kinabalu: Sabah PKR chief and Api-Api incumbent Datuk Christina Liew arrives at SK Sacred Heart to vote.
9.40am in Kota Belud: BN’s Usukan candidate Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak votes in SJKC Chung Hwa here.
9.40am in Penampang: Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking finished voting at SK Sugud.
9.40am in Sembulan: Voters queuing up under the hot sun at SK Sembulan while waiting for their turns to enter the polling station. The voters here told The Vibes that the turnout today was similar to the 2018 general election.
SK Sembulan polling station is in the Tg Aru constituency currently held by Warisan’s Datuk Junz Wong. He faces eight-cornered contest today.
9:40am in Membakut: Women voters are huddled underneath some umbrellas to escape the harsh sun.
9.35am in Kepayan: Voters are waiting patiently at SMK Bahang to cast their ballots.
9.30am in Inanam: The two tents outside SRK Lok Yuk have men claiming to assist voters by providing free transport and face masks.
9.10am in Inanam: Voters here told The Vibes that a group of people in a tent outside SK Kolombong were handing food packets to those who voted. When approached, they say they are election observers trying to assist voters to their voting channel.
9.02am in Inanam: Two young men sitting outside SK Kolombong after casting their ballots. They say party logos and symbols are confusing and may have voted for the wrong candidate. Inanam is witnessing a 10-cornered fight and is one of the most crowded constituency.
9am in Penampang: It’s a sunny day here as voters brave the queue in SK St Joseph to cast their ballots.
8.50am in Inanam: Crowd building up around SK Kolombong as authorities are only allowing 25 people into the voting room at any one time.
8.45am in Kepayan: Health Ministry officers checking temperatures of voters at SMK Bahang.
8.45am in Kudat: Former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat casting his ballot at SMK Kudat. He leads the charge for the Liberal Democratic Party today.
8.43am in Tuaran: Parti Cinta Sabah’s candidate for Sulaman, Datuk Rekan Hussein, voted in SK Serusup.
8.40am in Sandakan: Voters forming two long lines outside SMAK Tun Juhar.
8.35am in Sandakan: Former Sekong rep for three terms Datuk Samsudin Yahya accompanies BN candidate Hazulizah Mohd Dani to SMAK Tun Juhar.
Hazulizah says Samsudin is her mentor in politics. They are here to accompany Hazulizah’s mother, who is wheelchair-bound, to vote. Hazulizah is casting her vote in SK Bahagia, Mile 7 for the Sg Sibuga seat later.
8.30am in Penampang: Moyog Warisan candidate Datuk Darell Leiking arrives at SK Sugud to cast his ballot.
8.09am in Membakut: Donning face masks, voters from Kg Pimping have formed a queue to cast their ballots at Sekolah Kg Brunei.
In Membakut, it is a five-cornered battle between Parti Cinta Sabah, Perikatan Nasional, Warisan, Usno and an independent candidate. There are 13, 609 voters here.
8.07am in Semporna: Caretaker chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal arrives at SK Bubul to cast his ballot. He was done by 8.16am.
7.55am in Kota Marudu: PBS president Datuk Seri Maximus Johnity Ongkili arrives at SMK Kota Marudu to vote for the Tandek state seat.
7.45am in Kapayan: A normally quiet neighbourhood is packed with cars parked by the roadside as voters head out to cast their ballots.
7.30am: 2,540 voting channels at 741 polling centres in 73 state constituencies are opened.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department has forecasted rain and thunderstorm in one or two places in the west coast and the interior of Sabah, Kudat and Sandakan today.
