KUALA LUMPUR – The government has been urged to look at the need for by-elections to fill unexpected vacancies in parliamentary or state assembly seats, as it is a costly affair.
In a noteworthy proposal by former Election Commission (EC) deputy chief Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Wan Omar in an interview with Utusan Malaysia, said the Federal Constitution can be amended to allow the winning party to continue serving the people.
If amended, he said the government could potentially save significant funds, ranging from RM4 million to RM6 million for each by-election.
He added that the EC and the Attorney-General’s Chambers should examine this need within the context of the country’s political democracy.
Wan Ahmad said this would give responsibility to the winning party of the vacant seat to represent and serve the interests of the constituents in the area until the next general election.
His proposal comes at a time when Malaysia is gearing up for yet another by-election, this time for the Pelangai state assembly seat in Pahang. The seat became vacant following the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of the incumbent Datuk Seri Johari Harun, who represented BN.
Earlier this month, by-elections were held for the Pulai parliamentary seat and the Simpang Jeram state assembly seat in Johor following the passing of the incumbent Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub from Pakatan Harapan. PH retained both seats in the polls.
Sarawak’s Jepak assemblyman Datuk Talib Zulpilip passed away last week and another by-election will take place soon.
Between 2008 and 2013, Malaysia witnessed 16 by-elections. There were 12 by-elections each during the 2013-2018, and 2018-2022 terms.
Determining a fixed budget for each by-election is challenging due to factors such as varying voter numbers, terrain, personnel, transportation, and logistics.
For state assembly by-elections, costs can range from RM1.5 million to RM3 million, while parliamentary by-elections can range from RM4 million to RM6 million.
Based on these figures, Wan Ahmad estimated that the Finance Ministry would need to allocate approximately RM120 million to cover an average of 20 by-elections over the course of three years, as by-elections are not required within the last two years of a parliamentary/state assembly term.
Wan Ahmad stressed that in addition to the EC’s expenses, other government agencies also bear the costs of assisting in conducting by-elections.
Moreover, political parties are forced to allocate significant funds every time they participate in the polls.
Wan Ahmad’s proposal to amend the federal constitution to eliminate the necessity for by-elections raises important points worth considering.
By-elections can be costly and resource-intensive affairs, often taking a toll on government budgets and political parties’ resources. The proposal presents an opportunity to address these financial challenges while ensuring continuous representation for constituents.
However, the proposal also prompts questions regarding the potential implications of democratic processes. By-elections serve as a means for constituents to have a say in their representation when an incumbent passes away or vacates their seat.
Eliminating by-elections entirely could raise concerns about limiting the democratic rights of citizens in such situations. – The Vibes, September 18, 2023
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