Lamag: A total of 55.16 per cent, or 7,455 voters, have cast their ballots in the Lamag state by-election as of 3 pm today, according to the Election Commission (EC). By polling district, Lamag recorded the highest voter turnout at 66.61 per cent, followed by Balat (59.35 per cent), Buang Sayang (57.31 per cent), Bukit Garam (56.14 per cent), Usaha Jaya (54.66 per cent) and Kota Kinabatangan (52.94 per cent).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, all nine polling centres, which comprise 30 polling stations or streams, opened at 7.30 am today. This enabled 13,515 registered voters to fulfil their civic duty in electing a new representative. The polling centres are scheduled to close in stages from noon to 5.30 pm in accordance with the designated voting times.
The Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election features a three-cornered contest involving Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar of Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman of Warisan, and Goldam Hamid, an Independent candidate. Meanwhile, the Lamag seat presents a straight fight between Mohd Ismail Ayob of BN and Mazliwati Abdul Malek of Warisan.
The by-elections were necessitated by the passing of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, 66, of BN on December 5 last year.