Kota kinabalu: All voters in the by-elections for the Kinabatangan parliamentary seat and the Lamag state seat have been reminded not to wear clothing, caps, face masks, or carry items bearing party or candidate logos or symbols to polling centres tomorrow. Election Commission (EC) secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus emphasized the importance of adhering to election rules in order to maintain order and neutrality during the electoral process.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, voters are also prohibited from bringing any campaign materials, including taglines or slogans that suggest support for any political ideology. Breaches of these provisions may result in voters being barred from entering polling centres. This reminder extends to candidates and election workers as well. The EC urges all parties to comply with election laws, regulations, and ethics to ensure a smooth electoral process and avoid disruptions to public order. Any violations of related laws may lead to legal action.
Voters are not allowed to use mobile phones at their respective polling streams and must place them in designated areas after receiving their ballot papers. They can retrieve their phones after completing the voting process. Khairul Shahril reminded voters to bring their identity cards and voting information records to facilitate name verification and ensure a smooth voting process. Additionally, voters can verify their polling details through the EC's portal, hotline, or the MySPRSemak application.
Employers are reminded to allow reasonable time for registered voters to cast their votes tomorrow, as stipulated under the Election Offences Act 1954. The EC also highlighted that the campaign period will end at 11.59 pm tonight, after which all campaign activities, including those on social media platforms like Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads, must cease. Contesting parties are prohibited from setting up or maintaining booths on Polling Day as it constitutes an offence under the Election Offences Act 1954.
A total of 1,106 personnel will manage the polling process, which involves 36 ordinary polling centres comprising 117 polling stations or streams. Khairul Shahril stated that 48,282 individuals are eligible to vote in the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections in Sabah. He expressed hope that all voters would fulfill their responsibility by participating in the election.
Two polling centres will close at noon, while the remaining 34 will close in stages from 1 pm to 5.30 pm according to the stipulated voting times. Indelible ink marking will be applied to the left little finger of voters who participate in the by-election. The Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election features a three-cornered contest between candidates from Barisan Nasional (BN), Warisan, and an Independent, while the Lamag state seat sees a straight fight between candidates from BN and Warisan. These by-elections are being held following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, on December 5 last year.