Counting process in all 12 polling stations has started and the result of the Batu Talam state by-election is expected to be announced by 9pm the latest.

According to the Returning Officer Abdul Kadir Awang Bakar, the ballots will be sent to the tallying centre at the Raub Silver Jubilee Hall after the counting process at the polling stations is completed.

As at 6.30pm, two ballot boxes from Kundang Patah had arrived at the Jubilee Hall.

The Election Commission was satisfied with the high turnout of voters for this by-election which saw a straight fight between Barisan Nasional candidate Abdul Aziz Kiram and independent Ng Chee Pang, a 22-year-old political novice.

The 47-year-old Abdul Aziz is the overwhelming favourite to retain this traditional seat for Barisan Nasional.

His opponent Ng had said that he would be happy to just regain his deposit.

The EC said that some 7,131 or 68 percent of the 10,525 registered voters for the Batu Talam state seat went to the polls until the centres closed at 5pm.

About 73.4 percent of the 10,866 registered voters went to the polls in the 2004 general election.

The by-election is held following the death of BN's Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan last Dec 27.