State polls expected to cost RM420mil, says Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR: The elections that are to be held in six states are expected to cost RM420mil, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan are set to go to the polls after the dissolution of their respective state assemblies.

“For campaign purposes, all parties are urged to comply with the laws under the Elections Offences 1954 ( Act 5) and other laws related to elections,” said the Law and Institutional Reforms Minister in a written parliamentary reply dated June 14.

She added that every time elections are held, the Election Commission will remind all parties to report to enforcement agencies such as the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) if there are any offenses committed during the polls period.

She was responding to a question by Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Kubang Kerian) on the cost of the six state polls.

He also asked if Putrajaya would ensure that government facilities are not misused by the ruling party for the state polls.

Meanwhile, Azalina said the EC has been updating the voter registry from time to time.

“This includes cancelling names of voters who have died, renounced or stripped of their citizenship,” she said.

She said the EC has also made preparations in terms of the election budget, equipment, logistics, development of systems, manpower and training of personnel and added that new voting stations will also be established, especially in districts with high numbers of voters.

She said this in response to another question by Datuk Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) on how will the government ensure that the polls go on smoothly, the financial implications and the strategy that will be employed to ensure high voter turnout.