KUCHING: Of the 1,866 polling centres in Sarawak, the Satok Sports Complex here was probably the centre that saw the most high profile voters cast their ballots.

       Sarawak Governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and caretaker Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg were among the voters there, so naturally, the centre received the most media attention.

       Taib, 85, arrived at 11.45am in his official car, a Rolls Royce, and was accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Raghad Kurdi.

       Both of them wore matching cream coloured outfits.

       The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate for Satok, Datuk Ibrahim Baki, was at the centre and greeted Taib.

       Taib posed for photos as he dropped his ballot into the voting box.

       He then left for SMK Tun Abang Haji Openg in Petra Jaya where Raghad voted.

       Earlier at 10am, Abang Johari was at the centre to cast his vote.

       Although Abang Johari, 71, contested in Gedong in this election, the GPS chairman is registered to vote in Satok.

       The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president first became the Satok assemblyman after winning a by-election in 1981.

       Another VIP who voted at this polling centre was Deputy Minister of Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib, who came much earlier at 8.30am.

       Hanifah is Taib’s daughter and also Mukah MP.

       Meanwhile, Senior Minister (Works) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof also dropped by the centre, after he finished voting at nearby SK Rakyat at 9.30am.

       The Satok state seat is within the Petra Jaya parliamentary constituency, where Fadillah is MP.

       “The voting process went smoothly.

       “It took me less than 10 minutes.

       “I did not expect to see a high turnout of elderly voters, so this is very encouraging,” said the PBB senior vice-president to reporters at the centre.