Malaysia's election deposit rate too high?

SHAH ALAM - Malaysia has the highest deposit payment rate in the world for candidates who wants to contest in elections.

Election Commission’s (EC) former deputy chairman Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said other countries, especially the Commonwealth states, have placed lower deposit rates than Malaysia.

"For example, in Australia, they set it at A$2,000 (RM6,119) only (deposit) while some countries like Canada don't charge deposits," he said when contacted by Sinar Harian yesterday.

The EC stipulates that every individual who wants to be a candidate in the general election must submit a deposit of RM10,000 for Parliament and RM5,000 (State Legislative Assembly).

The 15th General Election made history when it it recorded a total of 945 candidates running for 222 parliamentary seats nationwide, the highest in the country's electoral history.

Wan Ahmad said that the deposit rate set by the EC was appropriate and should not be used as a tool to prevent or complicate the involvement of any eligible individual to be a candidate in the election.

"This is because there are also individuals who are capable of being candidates and representatives of the people but he has a small financial resource.

“We need to balance so that quality people can offer themselves to be candidates," he said.

Meanwhile, Wan Ahmad said the number of candidates in GE15 should be viewed in a positive light as it reflects the country’s fertile democracy.

Meanwhile, election analyst Dr G Manimaran said that the current deposit rate was set by the EC in 1986.

He said prior to that, each candidate was required to give a deposit of RM1,500 for a parliamentary seat and RM750 for the state legislative assembly.