Separate state polls way above Rm420mil

IT will cost more to hold the upcoming state polls separately, compared to the estimated Rm420mil to be spent should it be held simultaneously, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh said the higher cost incurred would be due to repeated planning.

“It is better to hold concurrent state elections,” said Ramkarpal during his winding-up speech on Budget 2023 at the committee stage debate.

However, he did not provide details as to how much it would cost if the state polls were to be held separately.

Ramkarpal said the estimated cost to hold the state polls concurrently would be about Rm420mil.

Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu are due to hold their respective state polls this year.

Last month, the six states reached an understanding to dissolve their respective state assemblies in the last two weeks of June.

Sim Tze Tzin (Ph-bayan Baru), who interjected Ramkarpal, urged Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pn-pagoh) who was present in Parliament, to ensure that Perikatan Nasional states hold their state polls simultaneously with states under Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional.

“This is so that we can save funds in the nation’s coffers and use it for the people,” added Sim.

Muhyiddin is the chairman of Perikatan, a coalition comprising Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, PAS and Gerakan.

Ramkarpal said that various engagement sessions with stakeholders had been held on the proposal to reintroduce the Parliamentary Services Act (PSA).

“The Attorney General’s Chambers will decide amendments on this Act based on the policy parameters decided by the Cabinet,” he added.

The PSA was first enacted in 1963, just a few months before the formation of Malaysia.

It allowed Parliament to act as an independent body running its own affairs, selecting its own staff and managing its expenditure.

However, it was repealed in 1992. Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul had said the re-enactment of the PSA were among his key reform agenda for Parliament.