PETALING JAYA: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman and Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has called for separate parliamentary and state elections, saying it would give voters more opportunities to voice their demands.
He said separate elections would effectively double the chances for the electorate to send a clear message to the government on issues affecting them.
“If voters could cast their ballots twice, the government would pay more attention to issues faced by the people to secure their support,” he was quoted in a report by FMT on Monday (May 25).
Chong added that when state and parliamentary elections were held separately in the past, it allowed a wider range of issues to receive focused attention.
“I prefer separate elections as this would give voters two opportunities to voice their demands to the government within a five-year period.”
His remarks come a week after Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) information chief Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah voiced support for holding the next general election (GE16) concurrently with the 13th Sarawak state election, saying simultaneous polls would help reduce public expenditure.
Earlier, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook had also proposed that state elections in 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia be held together with GE16, citing cost savings and better alignment of federal and state mandates.
According to Election Commission data, the government spent about RM725 million for GE15, while the separate six state elections incurred an additional RM420 million in costs.
