THE Election Commission (EC) has issued 446 postal ballot papers to individuals who are entitled to vote by post for the Kinabatangan Parliamentary and Lamag State Legislative Assembly (DUN) By-elections.
EC Secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus said the postal ballot papers were issued by election officials appointed by the returning officer in the presence of postal ballot agents from the contesting candidates today.
He said the issuance of postal ballot papers for the Kinabatangan Parliamentary by-election involved 203 Category 1A postal ballot papers for election officials, police personnel and media personnel, in addition to 48 Category 1C postal ballot papers for agencies and organisations.
He said the Lamag DUN by-election postal ballot papers issued consisted of 155 Category 1A postal ballot papers for election officials, police personnel and media personnel, as well as 40 Category 1C postal ballot papers involving agencies and organisations.
"The EC reminds all postal voters to mark their ballot papers, fill in the Declaration of Identity (Form 2) form completely and correctly, and return it to the returning officer before 5 pm on polling day, which is January 24.
"Voters are also reminded to always maintain the confidentiality of their votes by not taking pictures of their postal ballot papers and spreading them on social media," it said.
According to EC statistics, a total of 48,722 voters, consisting of 48,526 ordinary voters and 196 policemen and their spouses, were eligible to carry out their responsibilities in this by-election.
The by-election was held following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, 66, on December 5 last year.
The Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election sees a three-cornered contest between Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar representing Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (WARISAN) and Goldam Hamid (Independent), while the Lamag DUN by-election involves a one-on-one contest between Mohd Ismail Ayob (BN) and Mazliwati Abdul Malek (WARISAN).
The EC has set a 14-day campaign period with polling day on 24 January and 20 January as the early voting date. – January 13, 2026