EC chief: 603 election-related offences recorded for Sabah polls

KOTA KINABALU (Nov 29): A total of 603 election-related offences have been recorded across Sabah so far, said Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun.

“Of these, 81 were reported to the police and five lodged formally with the commission.

“Most involved minor campaign violations, such as inappropriate posters, which have been swiftly addressed,” he said during a visit to the SK Kawang polling centre near Papar.

Polling is proceeding smoothly, with all 882 centres opening on time this morning.

As of 11am, voter turnout stood at 31.3 per cent, slightly below the 32 percent recorded in the previous general election.

Ramlan expressed hope that the turnout would increase in the afternoon as weather conditions improve.

“Some areas experienced light rain, but it does not appear to be deterring voters.

“We expect overall turnout to reach around 60 per cent by the end of the day, which is in line with previous elections,” he said.

The commission has put measures in place to ensure transparency during counting, with votes tallied at polling centres under the supervision of party agents.

No result will be considered final until all agents have signed off.

For remote and island constituencies, helicopters have been deployed to deliver ballot boxes, ensuring polling stations can close on schedule at noon.

Most centres are located near residential areas and usually serve fewer than 100 voters per station.

According to Ramlan, preliminary results are expected by 10pm, with the full count likely by midnight, barring any unexpected delays.