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VOTER turnout in Sabah’s 17th general election reached 10.14 per cent as of 9am, according to the Election Commission (EC), reflecting participation from approximately 10 per cent of the 1.7 million registered voters.
Early voting on Wednesday had already recorded a strong turnout of 92.5 per cent, with 17,615 ballots cast.
The state’s heavy rain did little to deter voters, as residents queued under umbrellas and raincoats to exercise their democratic rights.
Among the early voters was Datuk Mohamad Alamin, Barisan Nasional’s (BN) candidate for the Bongawan state seat and Member of Parliament for Kimanis.
He arrived at Sekolah Kebangsaan Our Lady of Fatima at 9.40am and cast his vote in Saluran 2.
Alamin faces a competitive contest against several heavyweight candidates, including former Foreign Minister Tan Sri Anifah Aman of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), incumbent Dr Daud Yusof of Warisan, as well as contenders from STAR, Perikatan Nasional, Parti Impian Sabah, KDM, Bebas, and Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah.
Bongawan, which falls under the Kimanis parliamentary constituency, has 24,019 registered voters and is located about 77 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu.
In Kapayan, Upko candidate Billy Joe Dominic arrived at SJK(C) Yue Min to cast his ballot, stepping into a crowded 13-cornered race.
Meanwhile, Datuk Chan Foong Hin, deputy chairman of Sabah DAP and deputy minister of Plantation and Commodities, voted alongside his wife, Datin Koh Chen Yean, at SK Bahang in Penampang, representing Pakatan Harapan for the Tanjung Aru seat.
Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) incumbent for Apas, Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, emphasised the importance of the election beyond the routine five-year cycle.
Arriving at SK Titingan in Tawau Lama at 8.30am with his wife and four children, Nizam said the polling process was smooth and expressed gratitude for being able to fulfil his civic duty.
Reflecting on the two-week campaign period, he highlighted GRS’s efforts to connect with constituents through house-to-house visits and a series of public talks explaining their development agenda.
“Throughout the campaign, we worked hard. Alhamdulillah today we are at the end of it, and I hope all our efforts are translated into the support of the people,” he said.
Nizam added that securing a clear mandate from voters is crucial to ensure Sabah maintains political stability and continues on a path of steady development.
With polling underway across 882 centres in 73 state constituencies, EC officials continue to monitor turnout closely, with heavy rainfall expected to influence voter participation throughout the day. - November 29, 2025