The Likas by-election will see a four-cornered fight between Barisan Nasional, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Keadilan and an independent candidate.

The candidates are former Sabah chief minister Yong Teck Lee of Barisan Nasional (BN), Dr Chong Eng Leong of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Christina Liew of Keadilan and Joshua Kong, an independent contestant.

Malaysiakini learnt that returning officer Alijus Sipil this morning struck off five objections filed against Yong's eligibility, saying that according to the law, "at this moment, at this hour, Yong is qualified".

Three of the objections came from the candidates, the remaining two from voters.

The Likas by-election was called after High Court judge Muhammad Kamil Awang on June 8, ruled that the Likas electoral roll was illegal and that he was convinced of the existence of phantom voters in the constituency.

Sabah's population of some three million includes an estimated 500,000 immigrants, mainly from neighbouring Indonesia and the Philippines.

Yong won the Likas seat in the March1999 state elections with a large majority of 4,962 votes.

Muhammad ruled that Yong committed offences under the election legislation but the Kota Kinabalu High Court granted Yong a stay of execution over the judgment, clearing the way for him to re-contest in Likas.

Disqualified nomination

Nominations for the by-election closed this morning at Pusat Maksak with five candidates filing their papers. However, the last candidate who filed his nomination five minutes before closing time, Abdul Banning Abdul Mohamad was unable to get a seconder, and thus disqualified from standing.

Yong arrived at the nomination centre at about 9.30am, accompanied by BN secretary-general Mohamed Rahmat, Sabah BN chairperson Chong Kah Kiat, Sabah Umno liaison chairperson Osu Sukam and more than 500 supporters

Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) president George Chan, MCA vice-president Chua Jui Meng and BN Youth chairperson Hishammuddin Hussein were also present.

Sabah Keadilan treasurer Liew came with party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Hulu Kelang state assembly representative Azmin Ali and about 100 supporters.

PBS' Chong was accompanied by party president Joseph Pairin Kitingan, deputy presidents Dr Maximus Ongkili and Dr Yee Moh Chai and secretary-general Radin Malleh.

Independent candidate Kong, a public accountant, was the first to file his nomination papers when the centre opened at 9am.