KOTA KINABALU, Nov 28 — At 11.59pm tonight, all candidates and parties contesting in the 17th Sabah State Election must end all campaign activities, including ceramah, social media campaigning, poster installation and walkabouts to meet voters.
The outcome of the effort and campaign machinery throughout the 14 days since November 15 will be determined tomorrow by the 1.76 million voters who will cast their ballots to choose assemblymen believed capable of realising aspirations for progress in their respective constituencies.
All 882 polling centres statewide, with 3,558 polling streams, will open simultaneously at 7.30am tomorrow, before closing in stages from 12pm to 5.30pm.
On Tuesday (November 25), 17,615 early voters, comprising police and military personnel and their spouses, completed their voting responsibility.
The Election Commission (EC) has appointed 25 returning officers, assisted by 196 assistant returning officers, for this state election, which is estimated to cost RM116.8 million. In addition, more than 12,000 police personnel have been mobilised to ensure smooth voting tomorrow.
It expects early results to be announced around 10 pm, though this may depend on the latest weather conditions.
Checks on the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) website found that rain is forecast in several parts of Sabah tomorrow morning, while thunderstorms are expected in most interior areas in the afternoon. Rain is also forecast in several places at night.
The state polls will see the fiercest contest in the Tulid seat with 14 candidates, followed by Bandau, Tamparuli and Inanam (13-cornered each) and Banggi (12-cornered).
A total of 596 candidates: 525 men and 71 women, are contesting 73 seats.
Of these, independent candidates are the largest group with 74, followed by Parti Warisan (73), Parti Impian Sabah (72), GRS (55), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (46), Barisan Nasional (45), Perikatan Nasional (42), Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (40), the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (25), and Pakatan Harapan (22).
After the nomination period ended on November 15, Pakatan confirmed contesting 22 seats. However, two days later, Abdul Halim Sidek Gulam Hassan from Parti Keadilan Rakyat, who was listed for Silam, withdrew.
The EC added that his withdrawal was not permitted under existing regulations, and his name remains on the ballot as the Pakatan candidate for the seat.
Other parties contesting include Parti Kebangsaan Sabah (20), Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (17), Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah (16), Parti Bumi Kenyalang (14), Parti Rumpun Sabah (seven), Sabah Progressive Party (six), Sabah Peace Party (five), Perjuangan Rakyat (six), Pertubuhan Gemilang Anak Sabah (three), Parti Bangsa Malaysia (three), Parti Aspirasi Rakyat Sarawak (three), while Parti Bersatu Sasa Malaysia and Pertubuhan Perpaduan Rakyat Kebangsaan Sabah have fielded one candidate each.
For the latest news on the 17th Sabah State Election, visit https://prn.bernama.com/sabah/index.php
