RM123.7 million spent during 12th General Elections

A total of RM123.7 million was spent by the government to run the 12th general elections last year, while another RM989,000 was spent in the Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu by-elections.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz told Azan Ismail (PKR-Indera Mahkota) that the Permatang Pauh by-election chalked up expenses totalling RM409,000.
"For the Kuala Terengganu by-election, it cost the government RM580,000," he said.
Nazri also said under the Elections Act, candidates are prohibited from spending more than RM200,000.
"We can only audit the spending of the candidate as a preventive measure to prevent unlimited spending. However, we cannot stop his friends from doing so if they wanted to," he said.
To a supplementary question from Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat) who pointed out there is a tendency nowadays for elected representatives, especially those from the Opposition, to resign from their seat to force a by-election , Nazri said existing regulations are already in place to deal with such scenario.
He said elected representatives who force a by-election will be barred from contesting for five years.
Additionally, those who had completed their third year in office,from the first day of the seating, cannot force a by-election as they have served more than half their tenure.
"I hope there will not be any more by-elections, unless there it is caused by the death of an elected representative," he said.

tunku : i don't understand when nazri said that the government spent RM580,000 for the Kuala Trengganu by election when it was reported that the police alone spent RM15million for that by election. Is the police force not under the government?