KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — The Election Commission (EC) is seeking an additional RM60 million despite already spending RM405 million — double the cost of Election 2008 — last year, PKR’s Rafizi Ramli said today.

According to the PKR strategy director, the EC’s request for additional funds was for supplies, and not payment for its workers.

“The original allocation is RM45 million, plus RM360 million in the first supplementary budget, plus RM60 million this time, so the total expenditure is RM465 million,” Rafizi told reporters at the Parliament House here.

“With the budget for 2013, it would definitely exceed half a billion,” added the Pandan MP.

Seremban MP Anthony Loke said recently that the allocation for the 2008 general election was just RM200 million.

It was previously revealed in Parliament that the EC had spent the same amount for Election 2013 on just allowances and bonuses for its workers and officials.

Today, Rafizi called on the EC to reveal the breakdown of its expenditure.

“For example, if it’s for helicopters and boats, I don’t think there are new centres in Sabah and Sarawak that need extra helicopters and boats,” said Rafizi.

Loke noted that the government had issued several conflicting statements on the issue, especially since the EC claimed yesterday that the RM400 million was the ceiling of its budget for Election 2013 while the total amount spent has not been finalised.

“So why are they asking for the extra RM60 million? Every time they issue a statement they contradict each other,” Loke told reporters in Parliament here.

The opposition has criticised the EC’s expenditure as excessive. Its leaders claimed the amount was double that of the 12th general election despite only a 20 per cent hike in the number of voters.

In justifying the amount, Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the allocation included overtime payment of RM5.081 million, logistics, which included vehicle rentals, ICT equipment and lease line (RM98.465 million); service and token payment for workers (RM204.1 million) and other expenses (RM92.354 million).

EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar also said the sum allocated was justified.

“The amount of allocation increases after each general election due to the prevailing situation. The Treasury normally approves a large sum, but it is disbursed in stages, including before the general election,” he said.