ALOR SETAR: The four Perikatan Nasional-led state governments hope that their respective state elections will be held simultaneously with the 16th General Election (GE16), says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
The Perikatan chairman said this would ease the burden on the Election Commission (EC) and was also in line with sentiments previously expressed by Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis.
“It would make things easier for the EC, security personnel and election workers. Otherwise, they would have to serve repeatedly in successive elections.
“It feels as though an entire year is spent managing elections alone,” he told reporters after launching the Kedah PAS election machinery at the Kedah PAS Complex in Kota Sarang Semut on Friday night.
He also said that simultaneous elections would improve administrative efficiency and reduce pressure on election-related resources.
In GE15 in 2022, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu chose not to dissolve their respective state assemblies, resulting in separate state polls held in August 2023.
Perlis held its state election concurrently with GE15 following the dissolution of its state assembly.
On possible new political alignments, Ahmad Samsuri said no decision had been made, whether involving Muafakat Nasional or the “Reset Malaysia” initiative.
Meanwhile, PAS election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said it was feasible for Perikatan to win all 36 state seats in Kedah in the state polls.
Perikatan currently holds 33 state seats, while Pakatan Harapan holds three.
PAS won all eight parliamentary seats in Kedah in GE15.
