KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — The upcoming elections in six states is expected to cost taxpayers up to RM420 million.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the amount was an overall estimated cost to hold state elections in Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan in the next few months.

She said this in a parliamentary reply today to Kubang Kerian MP Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

The Pakatan Harapan-held states of Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan, as well as the PAS-led states of Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu decided not to hold their state elections at the same time as the 15th general election last November.

Penang already announced that its state assembly will dissolve on June 28 and Kelantan on June 22, with Negeri Sembilan expected to do so on June 30.

Separately, Azalina said the Election Commission (EC) has always urged all parties to file a report with the relevant agencies such as the Royal Malaysia Police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission if an alleged offence is committed during the campaigning period.

"This is to ensure immediate action and for an investigation to be conducted by said agencies on the matter.

"For this purpose, the EC requires cooperation from all and it is thus a joint responsibility for all stakeholders to ensure election campaigning is done smoothly and in an organised way,” she said.