Election Commission chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh said it was up to the six states to decide when would be the right time for them to dissolve their assemblies.
PETALING JAYA: Organising the state elections for Penang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah simultaneously will cost RM450 million, says Election Commission chairman Abdul Ghani Salleh
“It’s easier if all the states cooperated and dissolved their state assemblies at the same time,” he said at a press conference in Padang Serai, Kedah.
“It’s hard to say when is the right time to do this (as) it is up to the states to decide.”
He was commenting on the matter after Perikatan Nasional’s Azman Nasrudin claimed the Padang Serai parliamentary seat with a 16,260-vote majority win against Pakatan Harapan’s Sofee Razak.
Previously, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council decided not to dissolve the state assemblies of Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, while PAS also did not dissolve the state assemblies of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah for the 15th general election (GE15) on Nov 19.
Yesterday, Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Aminuddin Harun suggested it would be better for the six states to let their state assemblies complete the full term and hold their state elections at the same time next year as it would save costs in conducting the polls and make it easier for voters to cast their ballots.
Last month, Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state was open to discussing with Kedah, Terengganu, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor to dissolve their state legislative assemblies simultaneously to make way for state elections to be held together.’
Separately, Ghani said the EC will review the suitability of the 60-day period for an election to be held once Parliament or state assembly is dissolved. Under the Federal Constitution, a general election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of Parliament.
