KOTA KINABALU, Sept 26  -- Sabah is the epicentre of news and social media today as 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:

5.03 pm – Polling ended at 5 pm, vote counting and tallying are next.

4.22 pm: 58 percent voter turnout as at 3 pm for Sabah’s 16th state election.

3.00 pm – 54 percent voter turnout as at 2 pm for Sabah’s 16th state election.

2.00 pm – 48 percent voter turnout as at 1 pm for Sabah’s 16th state election.

1.33 pm -  Sabah CPO Datuk Hazani Ghazali said the voting process has been going on smoothly so far. He added that more than 100 individuals probably with dual citizenship have been barred and repatriated after trying to enter the state to vote.

1 pm – 41 percent voter turnout as at 12 noon for Sabah’s 16th state election

12.02 noon:  EC chairman says the voter turnout as at 11 am was 32 percent.

The EC targets between 70-75 percent voter turnout before voting ends at 5 pm.
 “I hope that voters will come out to cast their ballots as they still have time to do so. Voting closes at 2 pm, 3 pm and 5 pm depending on the areas. Voters have to conform with the standard operating procedures (SOP), and most importantly don’t forget to bring along the identification document,” he said when met by reporters after visiting the polling centre at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sanzac, Kota Kinabalu.

11.30 am – BN’s Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan arrives at SK Serusup to vote for the Sulaman state seat candidate.

11.15 am – BN’s Datuk Seri Bung Mokhtar Radin who is contesting for the Lamag seat casts his ballot at SMK Bukit Garam.

11.00 am – Former chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman votes at SK Sungai Manila.

10.55 am – EC Chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh arrives at SMK Sanzac Kota Kinabalu to check on the voting progress in Tanjung Aru.

10.14 am — EC Chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh visits the polling centre at SJK (C) Chung Hwa, Kota Kinabalu

10.10 am — Sabah PN chairman Datuk Hajiji Noor, who is contesting for the Sulaman seat, casts his ballot at SK Serusup, Tuaran

9.50 am — Tambunan candidate for Perikatan Nasional (PN) Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan of Parti Solidariti Tanahairku (STAR) and wife arrive at Sk Pekan Tambunan polling centre.

9.45 am -- Api-Api representative Datuk Christina Liew arrives to cast her ballot at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sacred Heart

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

-- BERNAMA