Sabah By-elections: EC Reminds Aspiring Candidates To Make Early Nomination Checks

KINABATANGAN, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- The Election Commission (EC) has advised prospective candidates intending to contest the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election and the Lamag state by-election to conduct early checks on their nomination papers.

EC secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus said the early checks could be carried out at the office of the Election Returning Officer or the Sabah State Election Office before nomination day on Saturday, adding that candidates are also encouraged to make their deposit payments in advance.

“The payment receipt must be brought on nomination day as proof of payment,” he said in a statement today.

He said nomination papers must be submitted between 9 am and 10 am by the candidate, proposer and seconder, or any two of them, or by any one of them, to the Returning Officer at the nomination centre at Dewan Sri Lamag here.

Khairul Shahril said prospective candidates representing political parties are also required to submit a letter of authorisation for the use of the party symbol when submitting their nomination papers.

He said candidates who have paid the election campaign material deposit are subject to the Election Offences Act 1954 (Act 5) as well as local authority by-laws.

“The EC calls on all prospective candidates and political parties involved to comply at all times with the laws, regulations, codes of ethics and directives issued by the EC, local authorities and the Royal Malaysia Police to ensure the nomination process proceeds smoothly and in an orderly manner,” he said.

The Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections are being held following the death of their incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar Radin, 66, on Dec 5 last year.

Polling for both by-elections fall on Jan 24, while early voting will take place on Jan 20.

The electoral roll for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election and the Lamag state by-election comprises 48,722 voters, consisting of 48,526 ordinary voters and 196 police personnel and their spouses registered as early voters.

The by-elections would involve a total of 36 regular polling centres with 117 polling channels, as well as one early voting centre with one early voting channel.

-- BERNAMA