PARTI Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) fully financed Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) campaign for the 15th General Election (GE15), according to a revelation by Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad, former principal private secretary to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Marzuki said that the cost of contesting a single parliamentary seat could exceed RM1 million, and that actual expenses often depend on local factors.
He said PAS faced minimal financial burden during the election as it contested under the PN banner and utilised election materials funded and prepared by PN.
“All campaign expenses under PN were borne by Bersatu. In fact, Bersatu also provided significant financial contributions to PAS,” he wrote.
“As a result, PAS won 43 parliamentary seats – the largest number in its 70-year political history. This is the reality of the logistical and financial support Bersatu extended to PAS, which I believe Datuk Seri Sanusi (Mohd Noor) is fully aware of.”
Sanusi, who is PAS’s election director, had a day earlier warned that defending a parliamentary seat in the next general election (GE16) could cost up to RM1 million, particularly if parties failed to effectively leverage technology.
Marzuki agreed with the cost projection, noting that high campaign expenses are a political reality across party lines, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, where logistical costs are significantly higher.
Among the largest components of election expenditure, he said, are campaign material printing, training of election machinery, and allowances for polling and counting agents (PACA).
“You need money to print flags. Candidate posters need to be paid for. That’s not even counting billboards, banners, caps, T-shirts, bamboo poles, and wooden stakes for planting flags. None of this comes free.
“Election machinery must be trained, and the cost of training is not cheap. Once trained, they are deployed during the campaign and on polling day. Those acting as PACA are paid allowances,” he added.
He stressed the importance of these allowances to uphold election integrity. “If they’re not paid, they don’t turn up. Who will monitor the voting and counting process if they’re absent? If cheating happens due to lack of PACA, the party loses.”
He further noted that transportation in rural constituencies plays a critical role in voter turnout. “Vans, cars, and motorcycles are used. Drivers need allowances, and fuel costs must be covered. Without that, there will be no vehicles.
“Mak Senah and Pak Maun waiting at their doorsteps won’t go out to vote if no one picks them up. If the party loses by two votes, wouldn’t that be regrettable?”
Marzuki said the costs outlined do not yet include election research, media and social media advertising, operations room management, and various other incidental expenditures.- September 17, 2025
