Cost will double if parliamentary, state elections held separately, says minister

The cost of holding separate parliamentary and state elections will double the cost, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Mustapa Mohamed said yesterday.

He said this would also have an impact on the country’s economic recovery process.

"A sharp cost increase will occur as over RM1 billion is needed to conduct a general election.

"It could also influence the decision of outstation voters on whether to return twice to their hometown to vote or otherwise," he told reporters in Jeli. 
 
Mustapa, who is the MP for that constituency, said that if parliamentary and state elections were to be held separately, the focus would be more on politics than on economic recovery.

"This will certainly burden the people and disturb the economic recovery process and political stability as all parties will be campaigning, putting up election posters, holding ceramahs and so on.

"The important thing now is economic recovery after our fight against Covid-19," he added.