KINABATANGAN, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- The Election Commission (EC) today issued 446 postal ballot papers to eligible postal voters for the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections.
In a statement, EC secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus said the issuance of the postal ballots was carried out today by election officials appointed by the Returning Officer, in the presence of postal voting agents representing the contesting candidates.
He said the postal ballots issued for the parliamentary by-election comprised 203 Category 1A postal ballots for election officials, police personnel and media practitioners, as well as 48 Category 1C postal ballots involving agencies and organisations.
For the Lamag state by-election, Khairul Shahril said 155 Category 1A postal ballots were issued for election officials, police personnel and media practitioners, while 40 Category 1C postal ballots were issued for agencies and organisations.
“The EC reminds all postal voters to mark their ballots, complete the Identity Declaration Form (Form 2) correctly and return them promptly to the relevant Returning Officer before 5 pm on polling day, which is Jan 24 (Saturday).
“Postal voters are also reminded to safeguard the secrecy of their votes by refraining from taking photographs of the postal ballot papers and sharing them on social media platforms,” he said.
A total of 48,722 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the by-elections, comprising 48,526 ordinary voters and 196 police personnel and their spouses.
The by-elections are being held following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, 66, on Dec 5 last year.
Kinabatangan features a three-cornered contest involving Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar of Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan) and Goldam Hamid (Independent), while Lamag sees a straight fight between Mohd Ismail Ayob (BN) and Mazliwati Abdul Malek (Warisan).
Polling is on Jan 24 and early voting on Jan 20.
-- BERNAMA
