They say staggered state polls and a GE would waste time and money
PETALING JAYA: With Malaysia facing staggered state polls this year and a looming general election, federal lawmakers across party lines are calling for simultaneous elections to curb non-stop politicking and ensure national stability.
PKR’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said synchronised elections would give voters greater clarity, enabling them to prepare for a single nationwide exercise rather than a series of staggered contests.
“The voters would also benefit from greater focus and clarity, since all contests would take place simultaneously, while political parties would find their work easier with synchronised campaigns.
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“Political manoeuvring would no longer drag on through repeated polls and once this system is established, future elections could follow the same efficient pattern,” he said when contacted.
Under the current mandate, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government can serve until November 2027.
The current Melaka state assembly term ends in November this year, followed by Sarawak in February 2027 and Johor in April 2027.
Hassan added that Putrajaya should begin discussions with state governments to reach a joint decision, allowing a single date for the elections to be announced to the public.
Drawing comparisons with Indonesia, Hassan, said that Malaysia could emulate its neighbour’s model of simultaneous elections.
Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong also agreed that a joint election was preferable.
“If the current full-term tenures are maintained, there will be five elections within an 18-month period namely Melaka, Sarawak, Johor, the general election and six state elections.
“During this 18-month period, political actors will be largely preoccupied with elections, while investors are likely to defer investment decisions due to uncertainty.
“This would inconvenience multiple stakeholders and significantly waste time and resources,” added Khoo.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who is also Pontian MP, said while concurrent elections were a sensible idea, standardising the timing across all states remains a key challenge.
He noted that one of the main advantages of simultaneous elections would be reducing the near-continuous cycle of politicking from one state to another.
“Right now, the public sees government and opposition leaders engaged in politics almost constantly, with only brief pauses in between.
“I believe the people want to see daily focus on the economy, education, skills, healthcare, employment, and investment, not politics dominating every moment,” he said.
Kubang Kerian MP Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, who is also PAS deputy president, that the electoral system needs a new reform involving several basic structural aspects.
“Among them, the current first-past-the-post system should be reviewed. It is very unfair because the total votes obtained by each party do not reflect its actual representation in the Dewan Rakyat or the State Legislative Assembly. It is time for this system to be changed to one based on the percentage of votes obtained.”
He also agreed that elections should be held simultaneously and that the government should set a fixed date for them to simplify management and ensure proper preparation.
Hulu Langat MP Mohd Sany Hamzan strongly supports holding elections concurrently, saying it would significantly reduce administrative and logistical costs while also saving voters time and effort.
He noted that separate elections force people to vote multiple times, which can be particularly burdensome for those living far.
Jerantut MP Khairil Nizam Khirudin said holding simultaneous elections can reduce election-related costs for the EC and all parties involved, allowing the government to use the savings to fund capital expenditure projects that benefit the public.
“It makes it easier for citizens to manage their daily schedules and travel while fulfilling their responsibilities as voters,” he said.
