SHAH ALAM - Opposition MP Akmal Nasir has voiced out disappointment over the high cost of holding another state election during hard times.
Akmal said the estimated cost of March 12 Johor polls was RM96 million, in addition to Sabah and Malacca state elections costing RM140 million and RM40 million.
"People are burdened with high cost of living, but the government is happy to use hundreds of millions of ringgit to seize power,” he said in his recent Facebook posting.
The money could have been put to good use, the PKR MP added.
In Selangor, he said the state government has managed to reduce the rakyat's burden by lowering the prices for chicken by allocating only RM1 million.
"Imagine if the RM276 million (from the state elections) is channeled to reduce the prices of chicken," he said, adding the money could also be used to spend on farmers to increase food security in the country.