GE15 during monsoon season will cost additional RM100m - PKR

The country would have to fork out an additional RM100 million if the 15th general election is to be held during monsoon season, PKR communications director Lee Chean Chung claimed today.

In a statement, Lee (above) said the dissolution of the Parliament during the disaster period would also leave the country with a "headless government", and it will have an impact on the delivery of assistance to the rakyat.

"It is ridiculous to call for an election during floods. The Election Commission has said before that GE15 would cost around RM1 billion, and this estimation was for a normal situation when there is no flood. The cost would surely be much higher if it was to be held during the monsoon season.

"Former EC deputy chairperson Wan Ahmad Wan Omar has also admitted that the costs to run an election would increase during rainy season or floods, and it would go up to an additional 10 percent if there are polling stations that need to be closed down.

"This means that the election costs would increase by another RM100 million," he said.

Lee, who is Semambu assemblyperson, was responding to recent remarks by BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who said the ruling coalition is ready to wade through floods if GE15 is held during the monsoon season.

"This is a very wrong statement. Ordinary citizens also can understand that preserving life and property is far more important than holding elections and campaigning.

"Dissolving the Parliament during floods would create a situation where the country is (practically) left without a government, or a headless government, which would surely affect the chain of command and rescue works," he added.

According to Lee, the dissolution of the Parliament during the monsoon season would lead to a more unstable situation, and it would only benefit "one or two politicians" at the expense of the rakyat.

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