The Election Commission today lodged police reports against 62 candidates of the 14th general election for failing to declare their expenses during the polls.

Election Commission (EC) chief Azhar Azizan Harun (above) said the candidates, comprising 14 at the parliamentary level and 48 at the state level, failed to submit their expenses within the stipulated 31 days after the 14th general election results were gazetted on May 28.

"Following this, the EC lodged police reports against candidates who have failed to submit their statement of expenses so as to allow further action to be taken in accordance to the law," he said.

Azhar said this was a violation of Section 23 of the Election Offences Act 1954.

He added the offence will have implications as winners can be barred from the Dewan Rakyat or state assemblies and having their voting rights in the legislature revoked.

These winners, together with the losers, can also be barred from contesting in a general election for five years.

He added that criminal charges can also be brought against them.

The statement of expenses is necessary to ensure that candidates do not spend more than is allowed for campaigning.

Under Section 19 of the Election Offences Act 1954, a parliamentary candidate cannot spend more than RM200,000 or his or her campaign while a state candidate cannot spend more than RM100,000.