The Election Commission deployed helicopters to deliver ballot boxes to remote polling centres in Kinabatangan and Lamag ahead of Saturday’s by-elections.
KINABATANGAN: The Election Commission (EC) deployed helicopter services on Friday to deliver ballot boxes to three remote polling centres as final preparations for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections.
Returning officer Eddy Syaizul Rizam Abdullah said the use of helicopters considered the vast geography and inland locations of the centres.
“The initial helicopter deployment was carried out to three polling centres from 10 am until noon,” he said during an inspection at the official vote-tallying centre in Dewan Sri Lamag.
He stated the delivery is being implemented in two phases, with the remaining boxes to be delivered on polling day.
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Ballot boxes for coastal polling centres within the Sukau state constituency are being delivered using boat services.
The second phase of delivery is scheduled to begin as early as 3 am on Saturday to ensure all 36 regular polling centres can open promptly at 7.30 am.
Preparations for polling day have been proceeding smoothly so far.
The official vote-tallying centre will begin operations from 5 pm on Saturday until completion.
Full results are expected to be announced as early as 10 pm.
The Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election is a three-cornered contest between Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar (Barisan Nasional), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan) and Goldam Hamid (Independent).
The Lamag state by-election is a straight fight between Mohd Ismail Ayob of BN and Mazliwati Abdul Malek of Warisan.
Both by-elections were called following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, on 5 December last year.
A total of 48,526 registered voters are eligible to cast ballots in the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election.
For the Lamag state seat, there are 13,703 registered voters. – Bernama
