KUCHING, Dec 18 — The Election Commission (EC) announced 39 per cent voters turn out so far for the 12 Sarawak state election as of noon today as rain started to drizzle in the state capital.

EC earlier projected 70 per cent out of 1.2 million eligible voters would turn out today to vote at 1,886 polling stations in the 82 state constituencies throughout the state.

With storm and heavy rain expected to continue in the evening in most areas including Kuching, Simunjan, Bintulu, Sibu and Mulah, it is feared that the voters turnout will not reach the target set by EC.

In the morning, most of the candidate in Kuching, Stampin, Satok and Petra Jaya areas had already cast out their ballots earlier this morning.

This included state governor Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and Sarawak Parties Coalition (GPS) chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg at the Satok Sports Complex as they both vote for the Satok state constituency.

Abang Johari this time contested in Gedong, under the Simunjan parliament after serving as Satok state assemblyman for 40 years.

Meanwhile, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar were also seen voting at the Maong Hilir primary school in the Batu Lintang constituency in Kuching.

Batu Lintang is one of the more interesting area in Kuching with incumbent See Chee How who won the election there twice since 2011 under PKR has joined a new local opposition party — Parti Sarawak Baru (PSB) who contested in 70 seats today.

See will be defending his seat in a five-cornered fight between him, Sih Hua Tong (GPS), Voon Lee Shan (PBK), Alex Leong (Aspirasi) and Cherishe Ng (PKR).

Other than them, Batu Kitang GPS candidate and incumbent as well as GPS Kota Sentosa candidate Wilfred Yap also cast their ballot in Batu Lintang.

Meanwhile, DAP Sarawak chief Chong Chien Jen and Padungan candidate turned up to vote at Kuching High School in the constituency along with his spose and parents today.

Chong — the former Kota Sentosa state assemblyman is facing GPS and South Kuching mayor Wee Hong Seng, Sarawak People’s Aspiration Party’s chairman Lina Soo as well as Parti Bumi Kenyalang’s Raymond Thong.

The result is expected to be known after 5pm today.