30/11/2025

NATIONAL 3 theSun on Sunday NOV 30, 2025

Sabah polls see heavy turnout, tense mood

KOTA KINABALU: A broken leg from a road accident did not stop a young man from fulfilling his responsibility as a voter in the state election yesterday. Still recovering from a collision with a lorry five months ago, 32-year-old Khalid Tahar arrived at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bahang, Penampang – one of the polling centres in the Kepayan constituency – on crutches. Khalid, a construction worker, said the June 1 accident occurred while he was travelling back to his hometown in Kudat, leaving him with a fractured right leg that required surgery and a cast. “Even in this condition, I feel physically capable of coming out to vote. This is my responsibility as a Sabahan. If we are healthy and able, we should do what we can – no one can force us to do otherwise.” – Bernama Voter with broken leg casts ballot in crutches

Voters speak of frustration, persistent issues, hope and desire for real change across Petagas, Tulid and Inanam

PETALING JAYA: Sabahans went to the polls yesterday amid a tense, crowded and unpredictable state election – with voters enduring long queues, sweltering heat and heavy traffic for their chance to help shape the state’s future. From Petagas to Inanam, the mood ranged from anticipation and frustration to cautious hope, reflecting the state’s longstanding challenges and the high stakes of this election. Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN & IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

and responsibility. “I voted late, so there was no queue. Walking in, I felt nervous – it was my first time, and I wanted to make the best choice for Sabah. The worst part was the traffic jam – it took about 20 minutes to reach the school. Once inside, everything went smoothly.” Yan admitted he

voting at SK Kokol, Inanam. Bernama Johor Bureau chief Hasnah Jusid, 34, returned to Kota Marudu to cast her vote for the first time. “This vote is valuable – it will help shape the future of Sabah.”

In Petagas, trader Sulaiman Makbul, 41, said this year’s contest felt more intense than ever. “If we look at this state election, there are more candidates, including independents, even though the number of state seats hasn’t increased.

struggled to choose a candidate who aligned with his hopes for the constituency. “Honestly, I wasn’t sure whom to choose. Maybe I haven’t followed developments

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Another young voter, Muhammad Noh Ibrahim, 18, from Kampung Danau Ria, said he hoped his first vote would spur faster development in the Kinabatangan area, particularly in the Lamag state constituency. He also hoped the new government would attract more industries to the district to create wider job opportunities for locals. In Tawau, 18-year-old Auni Raihah Ruji also embraced the spirit of voting in her first election – made more meaningful as her father, Datuk Ruji Ubi, was contesting as a PH candidate for the Merotai seat. She said the responsibility of voting is crucial in shaping the future of both Sabah and Malaysia. Meanwhile, Mohd Hilmi Bahrun, 20, said he hoped the new state government would introduce more initiatives that directly benefit Sabah’s youth. – Bernama closely, or maybe the performance of elected reps hasn’t met expectations. After some quick research, I just hope my vote counts,” he said. The determination to vote extended to Sabah’s journalists, who made sure to fulfil their duty despite their packed election-day schedules. Sabah Journalists Association president Mariah Doksil travelled 180km from Kota Kinabalu to her hometown in Pitas to vote at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pitas, Bernama reported. “Although media practitioners usually vote by post, I made the four-hour journey because I wanted the experience of voting in person – and to have the indelible ink on my finger as a symbol of fulfilling my responsibility.” New Straits Times senior reporter Olivial Miwil, 37, from Penampang, cast her ballot at SJK (C) Yue Min after her postal application was rejected. “Polling day is busy for journalists, but fulfilling my duty as a voter comes first,” she said. Daily Express journalist Cynthia Duris Baga, 40, emphasised the importance of participating despite a heavy workload. “Even on a busy day, five minutes at the polling station can shape the next five years. Voting is not merely an act – it is an investment in a better future,” she said after

KINABATANGAN: Young voters in Sabah, especially first-timers, turned out enthusiastically yesterday, many experiencing their first-ever state election since the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration. Although Undi18 was first applied during the 2022 general election, Sabahans then voted only for parliamentary seats, as the state election had already been held in 2020. A survey at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bukit Garam here found many first-time voters arriving early, eager not to miss the historic moment of choosing their state representative for the first time. One of them, supermarket worker Siti Syafikah Gem@Gemrus, 18, admitted she felt nervous stepping into the polling booth, as this was her first time taking part in shaping Sabah’s future. “I hope my vote today can contribute to Sabah’s continued development,” she said. “This is because many feel the need to ‘save Sabah’ after seeing almost every major party form the government over the years, yet the same problems – poverty, water shortages – persist,” he said. Petagas saw a 10-cornered contest, which Sulaiman described as typical for Sabah. “Many independent candidates are contesting. I wasn’t confused when voting – I just took my time to decide who was the lesser evil for me,” he added. In Tulid, fresh law graduate Einstein Richard, 25, said the long wait and crowded polling centre made the day feel heavy. “Queueing and entering the polling centre, I felt both exhausted and excited. The wait was long, but approaching the voting stream, I felt relieved – I could finally fulfil this responsibility.” He said the lack of facilities, combined with the hot, humid weather, was challenging, although polling staff were helpful and queues moved steadily. “We could see party flags lining the roads. I was disappointed to see villagers being used as party ‘machinery’ for promotion. Some flags were placed so close to the roadside they blocked visibility – several motorists nearly skidded!” In Inanam, first-time voter “Yan”, a 25-year-old occupational therapist, described his experience as a mix of nerves

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