POLLING for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election and the Lamag State Legislative Assembly seat began at 7.30am today, with 36 polling centres comprising 117 voting streams opening simultaneously across the constituency.
The Election Commission (SPR) said all polling centres will operate until 5.30pm. However, two centres are scheduled to close at noon, while the remaining 34 will shut in stages between 1pm and 5.30pm, in accordance with designated voting hours.
According to the SPR, a total of 48,282 registered voters are eligible to fulfil their civic duty today to elect new representatives for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and the Lamag state seat.
The official vote tallying will take place at the Dewan Sri Lamag, which serves as the Official Vote Counting Centre. The official results are expected to be announced at around 10pm.
The polling process is being overseen by 1,106 Election Commission personnel, supported by 926 police officers and personnel deployed to ensure security and the smooth conduct of voting throughout the day.
On Tuesday, the SPR announced that 93 per cent, or 176 police personnel, had already cast their ballots as early voters for both by-elections.
Early voting was held at the Teratak of the Kinabatangan District Police Headquarters.
The Kinabatangan parliamentary contest features a three-cornered fight between Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar of Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman of Warisan, and independent candidate Goldam Hamid.
Meanwhile, the Lamag state seat is being contested in a straight fight between Mohd Ismail Ayob of BN and Mazliwati Abdul Malek of Warisan.
All five candidates are expected to cast their votes today. Mohd Kurniawan Naim will vote 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 by-elections were called following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, aged 66, on 5 December.
During the 15th General Election (GE15), Bung Moktar successfully defended the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat after securing a majority of 4,330 votes against his challenger Mazliwati from Warisan.
He also recorded a narrow victory in the Lamag state constituency during the Sabah state election on 29 November, winning a five-cornered contest with a majority of 153 votes. - January 24, 2026
