ALL parties contesting the Kinabatangan Parliamentary and Lamag State Legislative Assembly (DUN) by-elections are reminded to stop any form of campaigning activities as soon as the official campaigning period ends at 11.59pm tonight.
Election Commission (EC) Secretary, Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus, said the campaigning activities included soliciting votes outside polling stations, through social media channels such as Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and others.
"The EC also reminds that all parties or candidates contesting are prohibited from opening, building or maintaining booths on polling day as this is an offence under the Election Offences Act 1954.
"All candidates are reminded to clean up campaign materials that have been placed or displayed throughout the campaign period within the time specified under the Electoral Offences Act 1954 and local authority by-laws," he said in a statement on Friday.
He added that all voters, candidates and staff who wish to enter polling stations on polling day are prohibited from wearing shirts, hats, half-face masks or carrying materials that have the name, emblem, symbol, picture of the party or candidate.
"This also includes any campaign materials, as well as campaign taglines or slogans that are directed or imply support towards any political ideology.
"Failure of voters to comply with or violate the provisions set may result in voters being prohibited from entering the polling station by election officials," he said.
He also informed voters in the by-election regarding the ban on the use of mobile phones at polling stations or channels.
"The EC reminds all voters that the use of mobile phones at polling stations (channels) is not permitted.
"As a reminder, notices or posters prohibiting the use of mobile phones will be placed outside and inside polling stations.
"The EC also stipulated that voters who bring mobile phones to the polling station must place them in the place provided after receiving the ballot paper and take them back after finishing voting," he said.
He said the implementation of the new voting procedure could be referred to through the 10-Step Voting Procedure poster, which fully explains the voting process.
"Voters are also reminded to always maintain the confidentiality of their votes," he said.
In this regard, he said, the EC hopes that all parties comply with the law, regulations and election ethics to ensure the smooth running of the election process and not to disrupt public order.
"Any violation of the relevant law may be subject to action," he said. – January 23, 2026
