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THE nomination process for the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election and the Lamag state seat opened on Saturday, marking the official start of the electoral contest triggered by the death of incumbent Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin last month.
Candidates were given one hour to submit their nomination papers, after which the returning officer, Eddy Syaizul Rizam Abdullah, is expected to announce the list of eligible contenders at 10am.
The twin by-elections were called following the death of Bung Moktar on Dec 5, 2025. He was 66. Bung Moktar had held both seats, having retained the Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency in the 15th General Election with a 4,330-vote majority against Warisan candidate Mazliwati Abdul Malek.
The former Sabah Barisan Nasional chairman also successfully defended the Lamag state seat in the 17th Sabah State Election on Nov 29 last year, winning by a narrow majority of 153 votes in a six-cornered contest.
The Election Commission has set polling day for Jan 24, with early voting scheduled for Jan 20. A total of 48,722 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots, comprising 48,526 ordinary voters and 196 police personnel and their spouses.
Voting will be conducted at 36 polling centres with 117 voting streams, in addition to one early voting centre. - January 10, 2026