KOTA KINABALU, Sept 26  -- A total of 2,540 voting channels at 741 polling centres in 73 state constituencies were opened simultaneously at 7.30am today to enable Sabah voters to choose a new government in the snap state election.

The polling process, which involves 1,088,711 out of the total 1,103,646 ordinary voters, will be managed by 17,257 election workers until the official voting time ends at 5pm.

The Sabah election is being held after Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal sought the dissolution of the state legislative assembly on July 30, a day after his predecessor Tan Sri Musa Aman claimed he had the majority support among state assemblymen to form a new government.

These are the latest developments of Sabah state election:

9.20 am  --  Warisan’s candidate for Moyog Datuk Darell Leiking arrives at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sugud, Penampang to vote.

9.17 am -- BN candidate for Usukan Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak who is also the former chief minister arrives at the polling centre at SJKC Chung Hwa, Kota Belud

9.01 am – Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, who is also the former chief minister and LDP’s candidate for Inanam, votes at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kudat

9.00 am  -- Almost a thousand voters have arrived at SK Pekan Tambunan, under the Tambunan constituency.

8.40 am  -- Among the earliest to vote, senior citizens, those on wheelchair, and those depending on walking aid.  Many were aided by EC staff wearing PPEs. 

8.30 am – Some voters were seen taking selfies as they could not resist the panaromic Mount Kinabalu backdrop at the SJKC Chung Hwa, Kota Belud, one of the polling centres under Usukan state constituency.

8.07 am - Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and wife Datin Seri Suriyani Shuib enter SK Bubul , Semporna to cast their ballots.

7.30 am  - Polling begins

7.00 am - Voters in the Api-api state constituency begin entering Sekolah Kebangsaan Sacred Heart to vote.

-- BERNAMA