KINABATANGAN: The Election Commission (EC) has been deploying helicopters and boats to deliver ballot boxes to polling centres in remote locations for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections.
Returning officer Eddy Syaizul Rizam Abdullah said helicopters were used on Friday (Jan 23) to deliver ballot boxes to three polling centres, namely SK Kuamut, SK Inarad and SK Abai, due to geographical factors, including the vastness of the Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency.
"Helicopter deployment was carried out to three polling centres, from 10am until noon. The delivery of ballot boxes is being implemented in two phases, namely the initial movement today, and the remaining deliveries on polling day tomorrow (Saturday, Jan 24).
"For polling centres in coastal areas within the Sukau state constituency, ballot boxes are being delivered using boats," he said when inspecting final preparations at the official vote-tallying centre at Dewan Sri Lamag here on Friday.
He said the second phase of ballot box delivery is scheduled to begin at 3am on Saturday to ensure that all 36 regular polling centres, involving 117 channels, are able to commence operations promptly at 7.30am.
He said preparations for polling day had so far been proceeding smoothly, adding that the official vote-tallying centre would begin operations from 5 pm on Saturday until completion, with full results expected to be announced as early as 10pm.
The Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election, which features a three-cornered contest between Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar (Barisan Nasional), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan) and Goldam Hamid (Independent), is being held concurrently with the Lamag state by-election. The latter involves a straight fight between Mohd Ismail Ayob of Barisan and Mazliwati Abdul Malek of Warisan.
Both by-elections were called following the death of Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, 66, on Dec 5, 2025.
A total of 48,526 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election, while 13,703 are registered voters for the Lamag state seat. – Bernama
