[UPDATE] Sandakan by-election, all 19 polling stations closed

SANDAKAN, May 11 (Bernama) – Polling for the Sandakan parliamentary by-election began as soon as 19 polling stations involving 90 polling streams opened at 7.30 am today.

A total of 39,684 ordinary voters are eligible to cast their ballots before the polling stations close at 5.00 pm.

The tallying of votes will be conducted at the Activities Hall of Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Tiong Hua here.

The Sandakan by-election is a five-cornered fight involving Vivian Wong Shir Yee of DAP, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) candidate Datuk Linda Tsen Thau Lin and three independents -- former Sabah Parti Amanah Negara founder Hamzah Abdullah, businessman Chia Siew Yung, and former officer at the Sandakan parliamentary constituency service centre, Sulaiman Samat.

The Sandakan seat fell vacant after the MP Datuk Stephen Wong Tien Fatt died of a heart attack on March 28.

The following are the developments of the Sandakan by election:

5 pm: All 19 polling stations closed. - EC

4 pm: 51 percent voter turnout. - EC

3 pm: 47 percent voter turnout. - EC

2 pm: 43 percent voter turnout. - EC

1.30 pm: Police opens six investigation papers from 12 reports received throughout campaigning period - Sabah Police Commissioner

1 pm: 37 percent voter turnout. - EC

12 noon: 32 percent voter turnout. - EC

11 am: 27 percent voter turnout. - EC

10 am: 20 percent voter turnout. - EC Chairman

9.43 am: Independent candidate Sulaiman Abdul Samat arrives to cast his vote at SK Muhibbah polling station.

9.26 am: Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Omar Mammah arrives at SK Sri Tanjung Papat 1 and 2 to inspect polling process.

9.07am : DAP candidate's mother Datin Florence Chong cast her vote at SMK Muhibbah.

9 am: Voter turnout is 12 percent. - EC Chairman

9 am : Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong cast his vote at SMK Konven St Cecilia.

8.30 am: EC Chairman Azhar Azizan Harun, Deputy Chairman Dr Azmi Sharom and Secretary Datuk Mohamed Elias Abu Bakar arrive to visit SK Sri Tanjung Papat 1 polling station.

8.25 am: Independent candidate Chia Siew Yung arrives to visit SK Muhibbah polling station.

8.08 am: DAP candidate for Sandakan By-Election Vivian Wong Shir Yee arrives at SK Muhibbah to cast her vote.

8 am: Independent candidate Chia Siew Yung cast his vote at SK Sungai Anib 1.

7.30 am: EC staff drives senior voters in a buggy to Streams 1 & 2 at SK Muhibbah.

7.30 am: Ahmad Kulambong, 60, the first voter to cast his vote at Stream 1 SK Muhibbah.

7.30 am: Some 136 police personnel on duty at 19 polling stations - Sandakan OCPD

7.30 am : 19 polling stations are opened.



— BERNAMA