SEVERAL top leaders of contesting parties have finished performing their civic duty to vote in the 16th Sabah election long before noon today after polling centres were opened at 7.30am.

All were spotted arriving at polling centres wearing masks and observing physical distancing, in line with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the Health Ministry to curb the spread of Covid-19.

In Sabah’s east coast, or about 522km from Kota Kinabalu, caretaker chief minister cum Warisan president Mohd Shafie Apdal was seen arriving at a polling centre in SK Bubul, Semporna, on a motorcycle.

Accompanied by his wife, Suriyani Shuib, Shafie, who is defending his Senallang seat, cast his ballot at 8.15am.

Sabah Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Hajiji Noor, who is also contesting the Sulaman seat, performed his duty to vote at 10.10am at SK Serusop in Tuaran, and showed his index finger covered in indelible ink to photographers waiting outside.

Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and candidate in Lamag Bung Moktar Radin cast his vote at SMK Bukit Garam, Kinabatangan, at 11.15 am, while Sabah DAP chairman Frankie Poon Ming, who is contesting under Warisan Plus in Tg Papat discharged his duty at the Sandakan Municipal Council at 9am.

Sabah PKR chairman contesting in Api-Api, Christina Liew cast her vote at 10.05am at SK Sacred Heart, Kota Kinabalu, while Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Maximus Johnity Ongkili cast his vote in just five minutes after arriving at SMK Kota Marudu at 7.55am.

Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star) president Jeffrey Kitingan contesting in Tambunan also completed the voting process at 9.50am at SK Pekan Tambunan.

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) deputy president Arthur Joseph Kurup, who is also deputy minister in the prime minister’s department (economy) was among the earliest to cast his vote at SK Pekan Keningau.

According to the Election Commission, some 54% of the eligible voters have cast their ballots in the 16th Sabah state election as at 2pm today.

A total of 2,540 polling streams are open at 741 polling stations in 73 constituencies across the state. Some 17,257 election workers are conducting the election to enable 1,088,711 of the 1,103,646 voters to exercise their right. A total of 14,935 people voted by post. – Bernama, September 26, 2020.