Readying up: Election Commission officials inspecting election materials for the Tuaran parliamentary seat. The items include official Election Commission vests, staff identification lanyards and polling station supplies. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Nomination day for the Sabah state polls won’t just be heated – it’s also shaping up to be a wet one.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has forecast rain across most of the state this Saturday.
Isolated thunderstorms have also been predicted across several districts in the state’s interior later in the day.
According to the forecast uploaded to the department’s website, the districts of Kota Belud, Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Penampang, Putatan and Tuaran on Sabah’s west coast are expected to experience rain in the morning, with thunderstorms in the evening and night.
No rain has been forecast in Ranau during the morning but thunderstorms have been predicted for later in the day.
Much of the interior is also set for rainy conditions.
Among the districts forecast to experience rain throughout the day include Beaufort, Beluran, Kuala Penyu, Nabawan, Sipitang, Telupid and Tongod.
Keningau and Tambunan, however, are set to have clear skies in the morning but could experience isolated thunderstorms later in the day.
On the east coast, day-long rain is forecast for Kinabatangan, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Semporna and Tawau.
In the north, Kudat and Pitas are also expected to see rain throughout the day, while Kota Marudu is likely to have thunderstorms in the later parts of Saturday.
The Election Commission has set Nov 15 as nomination day, with polling to be held on Nov 29. About 1.7 million Sabahans are eligible to vote.
Separately, MetMalaysia also said the northeast monsoon is expected to begin on Thursday and last until March.
Five to seven episodes of continuous heavy rain are expected to take place during this period.
“Continuous heavy rain over several days can also cause floods in low-lying areas as well as those close to rivers,” said MetMalaysia director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip in a statement.
A weak La Nina has also been forecast to take place during the northeast monsoon, with Sabah expected to be the hardest hit.
The state is also expected to experience above average rainfall between December and February.
