Putrajaya will have to fork out about RM600mil to RM700mil extra if the six Opposition-held states stick to their decision not to hold polls concurrently with the 15th General Election (GE15).

The cost of polls for each state will be different, depending on the size of the state and the number of seats in the state assembly but it is estimated that it will cost an average of about RM100mil for each state.

In a parliamentary written reply to Fuziah Salleh (PH- Kuantan), law minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told the Dewan Rakyat recently that the state polls in Sabah last year cost RM130 million, while recent elections for Melaka and Sarawak cost RM45mil and RM149mil respectively.

The Johor election in March this year cost RM98mil.

On Sept 25, The Star quoted Election Commission chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh that GE15 would cost around RM1.1bil, more than double the RM500mil spent on the election in 2018.

The 13th General Election in 2013 cost RM400mil.

Election analyst Dr G. Manimaran estimated that state polls for bigger states could cost roughly around RM150mil and felt that GE15 would cost around RM900mil if elections for some states are not held concurrently.

This is because fewer ballot papers need to be printed.

He also noted that costs would go up if weather conditions worsen and floods strike, as boats may be needed and new polling centres gazetted.

“The cost of elections is not only about ballot papers but also facilities like helicopters, vans, cars and other transportation,” he added.

He said manpower was also costly, adding that hiring election workers could cost RM300,000.

“We have about six states (that may have separate elections),” Manimaran said.

“Let’s say it costs around 40% of the RM300,000 for big states as they need more manpower.

“So there are more financial implications.”

Political think tank Ilham Center’s executive director Hisomuddin Bakar, citing the RM96mil Johor polls, said it would be a waste of funds to hold state polls separately.

“I am of the view that the state and parliament elections must be held concurrently to save cost and time of the voters,” he added.

The PAS Central Working Committee (CWC) decided in its meeting on Thursday that it would not be dissolving the state assemblies of the states held by the Islamist party, namely Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.

The Pakatan Harapan-led states of Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan have not dissolved their state assemblies.

Of the Barisan Nasional-led states, Pahang and Perlis have dissolved their assemblies while no decision has been made in Perak.

Barisan-held Melaka and Johor held separate state elections earlier, while Sabah and Sarawak also had elections on their own.

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by RAGANANTHINI VETHASALAM

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