Lamag: Some 10.57 per cent, or 1,429 voters, have cast their ballots in the Lamag state by-election as of 9 am, according to the Election Commission (EC).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lamag led the voter turnout with 21.79 per cent, followed by Balat at 21.07 per cent, Buang Sayang at 11.93 per cent, Bukit Garam at 10.70 per cent, Kota Kinabatangan at 9.57 per cent, and Usaha Jaya at 7.23 per cent.

All nine polling centres, comprising 30 streams, opened at 7.30 am, allowing 13,515 registered voters to exercise their right to elect a new representative. The polling centres will remain open until 5.30 pm and will be closed in stages from 1 pm to 5.30 pm according to set voting times.

Voting has so far proceeded under favourable weather conditions, with the EC targeting a turnout of over 65 per cent for the by-election. The tallying of votes will take place at Dewan Sri Lamag, with official results expected to be announced at 10 pm.

The Lamag state by-election, a straight fight between Mohd Ismail Ayob of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Mazliwati Abdul Malek of Warisan, is being held concurrently with the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election. The latter features a three-cornered contest between Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar (BN), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan), and Goldam Hamid (Independent). Both by-elections were called following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, 66, on Dec 5 last year.