Separate polls will double cost to RM2bil, says Tok Pa

 

Mustapa Mohamed said failure to hold concurrent elections would cause political instability because the leaders would be busy campaigning instead of focusing on how to improve the country’s economy.

PETALING JAYA: The cost of the general election will not only be doubled if Parliament and state assemblies are not dissolved concurrently but this will also be a burden on the people, says Mustapa Mohamed.

The economic affairs minister, also known as Tok Pa, said it will cost RM1 billion if the Election Commission holds both the polls simultaneously.

“If the federal and state elections are held separately, the cost will double to RM2 billion.

“In addition, outstation voters will need to return to their hometowns twice to vote. This will be a burden on them,” Astro Awani reported him as saying.

Besides these factors, Mustapa said it would also cause political instability because the leaders would be busy campaigning instead of focusing on how to improve the country’s economy.

Previously, six states had said they would not dissolve their state assemblies if the general election is held this year. They are Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu.

On Aug 30, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the PAS-controlled states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah would not dissolve their assemblies any sooner than March next year.

On March 20, the Pakatan Harapan presidential council decided that the states controlled by the coalition, namely Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan, would wait for their terms to end before calling for elections.

Earlier today, Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor affirmed that the state would not dissolve its assembly simultaneously with the federal government as the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah- Barisan Nasional government still has three years left before fresh polls need to be called.

Melaka and Johor both held their state elections in November 2021 and March 2022 respectively. - FMT