Expenses For 13th General Election Expected To Rise To RM300 Million

MELAKA - The Election Commission (EC) has projected that the expenditure for the 13th general election will go up to RM300 million compared with RM200 million for the 12th general election.

EC Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Yusof said the projection was based on the assumption that the next general election would be held simultaneously for all states including Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Kelantan which were now under the PKR, DAP and PAS opposition pact.

"Among the factors contributing to the increased expenditure for the next general election are the increase in the number of voters and additional equipment required such as ballot boxes, piercers and vehicles," he told reporters after the Briefing for 13th General Election Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers, here today.

In additon, Abdul Aziz said carrying out postal voting abroad would also cause higher expenditure for the next general election in view of the higher cost involved.

He said the EC had to spend at least USD10 (RM31.82) for postage for a postal voter abroad.

He said that so far, all the planning carried out including Briefings for Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers were in the early stages and the process called for thorough and proper planning.

Abdul Aziz said the EC was also planning to have several innovations relating to the election process but they were still being scrutinised and discussed by the Special Select Committee in Parliament.

The innovations involved nomination of candidates, early balloting, postal voting, amendments to the Election Offences Act, the use of permanent ink and campaign materials.

-- BERNAMA