At RM1.6mil, Kajang polls among costliest
Lawrence YongPublished: Mar 19, 2014 9:00 AM | Updated: Mar 19, 2014 9:27 AM
By-elections are costly affairs and the government can channel more money to charity if lawmakers didn’t quit without good reason, a BN minister said today, taking a jibe at the Kajang contest.
By-elections are costly affairs and the government can channel more money to charity if lawmakers didn’t quit without good reason, a BN minister said today, taking a jibe at the Kajang contest.
Minister in the Prime Minister's department Shahidan Kassim (right) said that the Election Commission (EC) had asked for RM1.605 million to run the Kajang by-election on March 23.
This is above average compared to the last 20 by-elections which altogether costs RM15.5 million.
It is also more expensive than coming Bailingan by-elections which needs about RM900,000.
"Whoever the people's representative is, stay on until the end of your term - if you don't die or get disqualified - stay on!" Shahidan told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
"The money saved can be used to help the poor. Don't have an election for the sake of a certain party," he added.
The Kajang by-election was triggered after PKR's Lee Chin Cheh resigned on January 27 to let PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim contest.
However, as Anwar is disqualified after being convicted for sodomy on March 7, his wife Wan Azizah (left) has replaced him in a straight fight against MCA's Chew Mei Fun.
To a question if Kajang would be the most expensive by-election since 2008, Shahidan declined to confirm that.
"You just make a guess from the figures I have given," Shahidan said, and gave examples of about 10 past by-elections - all ranging from RM300,000 to RM1.2 million.
For example, Permatang Pauh, Batang Air, Manik Urai came to less than RM500,000 each, while Sungai Limau, Sibu, Batu Jati, and Tenang all cost about RM1 million each.
Shahidan also shot down a question if the EC may have overestimated Kajang's cost.
"If EC asks for the allocation, it must be spent,” he said adding they didn’t want an election with inadequate facilities, and that the money will be spent to appoint election watchers and on transportation costs.
To a question if he would propose a law to prevent lawmakers from resigning before completing their full terms, Shahidan said he would "think about it" now that it was brought up.
Minister in the Prime Minister's department Shahidan Kassim (right) said that the Election Commission (EC) had asked for RM1.605 million to run the Kajang by-election on March 23. This is above average compared to the last 20 by-elections which altogether costs RM15.5 million.
It is also more expensive than coming Bailingan by-elections which needs about RM900,000.
"Whoever the people's representative is, stay on until the end of your term - if you don't die or get disqualified - stay on!" Shahidan told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
"The money saved can be used to help the poor. Don't have an election for the sake of a certain party," he added.
The Kajang by-election was triggered after PKR's Lee Chin Cheh resigned on January 27 to let PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim contest.
However, as Anwar is disqualified after being convicted for sodomy on March 7, his wife Wan Azizah (left) has replaced him in a straight fight against MCA's Chew Mei Fun.To a question if Kajang would be the most expensive by-election since 2008, Shahidan declined to confirm that.
"You just make a guess from the figures I have given," Shahidan said, and gave examples of about 10 past by-elections - all ranging from RM300,000 to RM1.2 million.
For example, Permatang Pauh, Batang Air, Manik Urai came to less than RM500,000 each, while Sungai Limau, Sibu, Batu Jati, and Tenang all cost about RM1 million each.
Shahidan also shot down a question if the EC may have overestimated Kajang's cost.
"If EC asks for the allocation, it must be spent,” he said adding they didn’t want an election with inadequate facilities, and that the money will be spent to appoint election watchers and on transportation costs.
To a question if he would propose a law to prevent lawmakers from resigning before completing their full terms, Shahidan said he would "think about it" now that it was brought up.
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