At Kaiduan Primary School in Papar, voters steadily streamed in to cast their ballots for the Limbahau constituency, a rural interior seat.
But getting to the school from state capital Kota Kinabalu was by no means a straightforward journey.
First there was a 60-minute drive, half of it along winding, narrow roads filled with potholes. Then voters had to traverse a rickety suspension bridge over a rushing stream.
The intermittently heavy rain complicated matters, but these challenges did not deter first-time voter Jeffson Pisol, 20.
“Voting is a mandatory responsibility,” he told CNA after stepping out of the polling room, his index finger dipped in blue ink.
Limbahau is contested by nine candidates, including those from incumbent coalition Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), main rival Warisan as well as local parties United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Malaysia (KDM).
Jeffson said his choice was easy. “I hope to see change,” the logistics worker said. “I hope Sabah sees more development and youths get more job opportunities.”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-sabah-state-election-5496751
