AS soon as polling centres opened at 7.30am today, throngs of people made their way to schools and community halls to vote in the 16th Sabah election, in full compliance with Covid-19 rules.

Bernama checks showed that voters were queuing up to enter the polling channels as early as 7am, wearing masks and while keeping their distance, as Election Commission (EC) workers checked body temperatures and asked voters to use hand sanitisers.

At several locations, EC personnel in full protective equipment (PPE) were on hand to help elderly people in wheelchairs to cast their ballots.

It was a colourful scene on polling day amid bright and sunny weather.

Some voters even had to board boats to go and vote at the SK Pulau Gaya polling centre.

Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal – the Warisan candidate for Senallang – and wife Shuryani Shuaib arrived at SK Bubul polling centre in Semporna about 8am to cast their ballots.

Beluran MP and Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Dr Ronald Kiandee shared photographs on Twitter, showing him among the early voters in line at the SK Pekan polling centre for the Labuk seat in Beluran.

A total of 2,540 channels at 741 polling centres were opened at 7.30am for a million Sabahan voters to pick their representatives in the 73-seat state legislature.

The polls are being overseen by 17,257 election workers and will close at 5pm. – Bernama, September 26, 2020.