KINABATANGAN: The Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election will see a three-cornered contest between Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar, Parti Warisan’s Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman and Independent candidate Goldam H Salangah.
As for the Lamag state seat, the by-election would be a straight fight between BN’s Mohd Ismail Ayob and Mazliwati Abdul Malek. The line-up was confirmed by returning officer Eddy Syaizul Rizam Abdullah following the close of nomination proceedings at Dewan Sri Lamag, Saturday.
Nominations were accepted from 9am to 10am, with no papers rejected. Naim and Ismail arrived accompanied by Sabah BN Chairman Datuk Jafry Arifin, BN War Room Secretariat chief and Umno central War Room Secretariat head Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, along with BN and GRS leaders, other component parties and supporters.
Mazliwati and Saddi were also accompanied by party leaders and supporters. The Kinabatangan by-election was called following the death of Kinabatangan Member of Parliament and Lamag Assemblyman, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, on Dec. 5, last year. The Election Commission (EC) set Jan. 10 for nomination day, Jan. 20 for early voting and Jan. 24 as polling day.
EC Chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Datuk Harun said four Election Campaign Enforcement Teams have been formed to monitor all campaign activities by the contesting candidates.
Some 39 election observers from nine organisations are participating in the Kinabatangan parliamentary by-election and the Lamag state by-election to ensure the transparency of the electoral process.
The EC also hoped that all permitted campaign activities would be conducted in a harmonious manner and in full compliance with the laws and regulations in force.
