The DAP candidate was accompanied by the largest number of supporters, who included Chief Minister Shafie Apdal, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee, who recently joined PPBM, was also present to lend his support.

Wong’s two sisters, Larina and Benita, are her proposer and supporter, respectively.

They arrived at the nomination centre at 9.15am.

Three independent candidates were also at the centre to submit their forms.

They were former Sabah Amanah chief Hamza Abdullah, Chia Siew Yung and Sulaiman Abdul Samat. Sulaiman quit DAP to contest in the by-election.

Wong’s closest challenger is expected to be Parti Bersatu Sabah’s (PBS) Linda Tsen, a former two-term MP for Batu Sapi.

She arrived at the nomination centre accompanied by some 200 supporters.