VOTERS in Sabah go to the polls today in a snap election demanding precautionary health measures amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

More than one million people are eligible to cast their ballots in the 16th state election that sees a crowded field of 447 candidates from 15 parties, as well as independents, vying for 73 seats in the state legislative assembly in multi-cornered contests that average six candidates per seat.

Health and security authorities have taken all precautionary measures to ensure that voters will be able to exercise their right safely and with ease.

Up to 1,594 health personnel have been deployed to 741 polling stations throughout the state, while the police have given their assurance that the people can come out to vote without fear.

A total of 14,935 people have voted by post, while 76% of 16,877 people exercised their right as early voters on Tuesday.

Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said 2,540 polling streams have been set up at the 741 polling stations, and 17,257 election workers will ensure a smooth election process.

He also said the EC will use 20 helicopters to transport ballot boxes and papers to interior areas, including SK Saliliran in the Nabawan constituency and Pulau Dinawan in Sulabayan.

Ghani also gave his assurance that there will be no phantom voters in this election.

He said the results of the election are expected to be known at 10pm, at the earliest.

Voters in some areas have been advised to be prepared for rain tomorrow, with showers forecast in one or two areas on the west coast, Kudat, the interior and Sandakan divisions in the morning, and thunderstorms in one or two areas on the west coast, interior and Sandakan divisions in the evening.

Sabah police commissioner Hazani Ghazali assured polling will proceed without incident and advised voters to cast their ballots.

He also warned that the police will act against anyone trying to provoke the people or create chaos during polling, and advised the people to adhere strictly to Covid-19 SOPs.

Of the 73 seats at stake are 13 new seats – Bengkoka, Bandau, Limbahau, Tulid, Segama, Kukusan, Pintasan, Pantai Dalit, Darau, Tg Keramat, Lamag, Telupid and Sg Manila.

Seats of particular interest are Senallang, Sulaman, Pintasan, Bongawan, Tambunan and Api-Api.

Caretaker chief minister and Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal is defending Senallang in a six-cornered contest that also includes a nephew, Norazman Utoh Nain, a Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate.

Sabah Bersatu chief and Sabah PN chairman Hajiji Noor is defending the Sulaman seat in a three-cornered contest, with the main challenger being Warisan’s Aliasgar Basri.

USNO chief and former Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) president and former foreign minister Anifah Aman, Star president Jeffrey Kitingan and Sabah PKR chairman Christina Liew are contesting the Pintasan, Bongawan, Tambunan and Api-Api seats, respectively.

The most hotly contest seat is Api-Api, where incumbent Liew is up against Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) deputy president Yee Moh Chai, PCS deputy president Pang Yuk Min, LDP president Chin Su Phin and five others.

The Sabah election is being held after Shafie sought the dissolution of the state legislative assembly on July 30, a day after former chief minister Musa Aman claimed he had majority support among state assemblymen to form a new government. – Bernama, September 25, 2020.