PUTRAJAYA needs to allocate RM1.2 billion for a snap general election instead of the RM700 million previously reported, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyiddin Hassan.

He told the Dewan Rakyat today that the cost increase takes into account the implementation of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP).

“RM500 million was spent on the general election in 2018. If the government holds a snap election now, it will need RM 1.2 billion. That is the estimate,” he said while winding up his debate on the supplementary bill at the committee stage.

He said this in response to a question from Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan-Barisan Nasional) on the election SOP.

In February, the Election Commission (EC) estimated an expenditure of between RM750 million and RM800 million for a general election, compared to RM500 million in the 2018 election.

Meanwhile, Takiyuddin said the government intends to have the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) represent the EC in future election petitions.

This is to save some RM400,000 that the EC spends on legal fees and services when election petitions are filed, he said.

“AGC under the previous administration decided that the EC should not use its services in election petitions but to engage private lawyers,” Takiyuddin said, referring to the Pakatan Harapan government.

“The government now is of the view that AGC has the expertise to handle election petitions.” – August 12, 2020.