Hashim added that the commission would only meet to determine relevant dates after Parliament has been dissolved, The Borneo Post reported today.

“The EC does not know when GE14 (the 14th General Election) will be before the dissolution of the Parliament,” he was quoted as saying.

Hashim also said it was normal that preparations for the election had already started.

“It is our usual practice to start making early preparations two years before the expiry of the term of Parliament. This includes the training of officers, updating electoral procedures, replacing damaged equipment and procurement of new ones,” he said in the report.

“We have to make early preparations because we don’t know whether the Parliament is going to be dissolved in its fourth or fifth year.”

Speaking to The Borneo Post, Hashim said among the ongoing preparations were plans for the GE14 budget, which he added would be made public after Parliament is dissolved.

“We will ensure that all expenditure is necessary for the GE14 to be smoothly conducted and it will be a prudent budget,” he said.