PEKAN: The decision of the Election Commission (EC) to hold the state and parliamentary elections simultaneously during the 13th general election, is final.

Deputy EC chairman, Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar (pic) said the decision was made after considering several concrete factors including saving the people's money.

"The EC will hold state and parliament election simultaneously, since holding separate elections will involve a huge amount of money and a waste of the people's time," he told reporters after a working visit to the Pekan parliamentary constituency here on Tuesday.

Wan Ahmad said, if the state and parliament elections were to be held separately, EC would incur a much higher travelling cost and election process.

Earlier, several states administered by the Opposition had expressed desire not to hold their state election together with the parliamentary election during the 13th general election. On EC's preparation in Pahang, Wan Ahmad said the EC was prepared in terms of logistics including providing air transportation to carry ballot boxes from remote areas to the vote tallying centres.

"In Pahang, the EC is providing air transportation in Rompin, Jerantut and Cameron Highlands, to carry ballot boxes from the areas involved.

"The move is taken as travelling by land will take between two to three hours to reach the vote tallying centres," he said. - Bernama

• Travel Picks: Top 10 golf resorts around the world
• Chinese premier criticizes EU move on trade measures
• Justice Department opposes AMR's $20 million severance for CEO Horton
• News Corp to take charge of up to $1.4 billion this quarter
• Wall Street Week Ahead: Investors look for signs in the rally's break
• Unhappy with how your fave series is faring? Amazon gives you a say
• Visa, Mastercard ask U.S. court to declare card fees are lawful
• Wall Street posts first weekly loss since mid-April on Fed angst
• IMF's Lagarde escapes formal investigation in court
• Politics of development pays dividend
• A thematic play seen
• Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
• Getting GST acceptance will be tough
• A yen for the unloved dollar standard
• Bitten by the music bug

• After Kabul attacks, 10,000 peace balloons
• Report: Google eyes emerging markets networks
• IMF chief avoids charges in French payout scandal
• Seven months after Sandy, New York beaches re-open

• Make betting legal, says top Indian body
• NBA: Pacers edge Heat to even series
• Arat: Istanbul bid to host the 2020 Olympic is about building bridges
• Golf: Two share lead at inaugural rain-hit Pure Silk LPGA
• Golf: Kuchar leads weather-hit Colonial
• Squash: Matthew offers a message with a warning
• Golf: Molinari leads but Ryder Cup colleagues crash out
• Tennis: Djokovic blocks Nadal path to Paris super eight
• MSSM meet: 15 records in five days augur well for M’sian athletics
• Indonesian Rexy's advise to M'sian team: Stick together as a family
• Yongbo: Beat us if you can, not good for China to win all the time
• Thai Ratchanok wins many hearts with her gritty display
• Squash:M'sian Nicol beats New Zealander in straight sets to reach last four
• Basketball: Warriors have no problem taming Dragons in Jakarta
• National hockey juniors fare badly in tourney

• Please wait.

• Living through your midlife
• Malaysia a favourite of Muslim travellers
• Who has the better chance of bagging that high-salary post?
• Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
• Klang Valley a haven for UOA Dev
• Painting of merry old couple covered up to prevent accident at Chew Jetty
• More can be done to promote private retirement scheme
• HyppTV goes for bigger market share
• Politics of development pays dividend
• Ex-steward gets to set aside default judgment