KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 – The dissolution of Dewan Rakyat today which paves the way for the 13th general election (13GE) as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was followed by the dissolution of six state assemblies by 12 midnight today.
With the exception of Sarawak which is not required to dissolve its state assembly, the Negeri Sembilan assembly dissolved by itself on March 28, other states are scheduled to dissolve their respective state assemblies soon to enable the Election Commission (EC) to hold the 13GE simultaneously.
After the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat, Perlis was the first state to dissolve its state assembly, followed by Sabah, Melaka, Perak, Terengganu and Pahang. Four states under opposition rule are expected to make similar announcements
tomorrow. In George Town, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he would announce the dissolution date after meeting the Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at 9.30am tomorrow.
In Kota Baharu, Kelantan Menteri Besar, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the state assembly will be dissolved in line with the dissolution of Dewan Rakyat and he does not want to change the matter even though the state can still postpone its dissolution. Nik Abdul Aziz is scheduled to seek an audience with the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V at Istana Telipot, tomorrow night, for his consent to dissolve the Kelantan state assembly.
Before that, he will attend a meeting with Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers of states under the opposition coalition at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat office in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, tomorrow. In Dungun, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said announced the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly, effective today (Wednesday).
Ahmad Said who made the announcement at 10pm tonight said he had an audience with the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin at Istana Nur Zahirah at 7.45pm and received the ruler’s consent.
“At 9am tomorrow, Terengganu Speaker Datuk Tengku Putera Tengku Awang will sent a notice to inform the Election Commission (EC) of the dissolution,” he told reporters, here tonight.
In the 12th General Election, Barisan Nasional (BN) won 24 of the 32 state seats and six of the eight Parliament seats in Terengganu. Meanwhile, in Kuantan, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob tonight announced the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly effective today.
The dissolution was to enable the state election to be held simultaneously with the Parliamentary election during the 13th General Election. Speaking to reporters at the Istana Mahkota compound here, at 11.45pm, Adnan said the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah had consented to the dissolution of the Pahang state assembly.
Earlier, Adnan had sought an audience with the Sultan of Pahang at 10.40pm at the palace. The five-year term of the Pahang state assembly expires on April 7. The Pahang state assembly has 42 seats and in the 2008 General Election, Barisan Nasional won 37 seats, DAP two seats and independent one seat.
The independent state assemblyman, Ho Yip Kap later joined Gerakan. Pahang has 14 Parliamentary seats and in the 2008 General Election, BN won 12 seats while PKR won two.
BERNAMA
