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PREPARATIONS for the nomination of candidates in the Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state assembly by-elections are progressing smoothly and are now in their final stages, the Electoral Officer for the constituencies, Eddy Syaizul Rizam Abdullah, said on Thursday.
Speaking to Bernama, he confirmed that Dewan Sri Lamag has been designated as both the Nomination Centre and the Official Vote Counting Centre for the by-elections.
Current preparations are focused on the layout of the centre, security protocols, and technical arrangements.
Eddy Syaizul Rizam advised prospective candidates to adhere strictly to the laws and regulations set by the Election Commission to ensure a smooth process.
“The nomination for both by-elections will open at 9am tomorrow and close an hour later,” he said.
Acknowledging concerns about unpredictable weather and the rainy season in Kinabatangan, he said the commission had put contingency plans in place to address any disruption caused by floods or other emergencies.
These measures include the potential use of helicopters to transport logistics if roads become impassable. If air transport is unavailable, alternatives such as boats or land vehicles will be used, though travel may take longer, he added.
Eddy Syaizul Rizam also noted that 20 polling centres would close earlier than usual on polling day, 24 January.
Among these are Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Ganda in the Sukau state constituency and Sekolah Kebangsaan Inarad in Kuamut. These centres will close at 12 noon.
The by-elections follow the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, 66, on 5 December.
The Election Commission has scheduled 20 January for early voting, 24 January as polling day, and 9 January for the nomination of candidates for both constituencies. - January 9, 2025