JOHOR BAHRU, June 1 — The Johor state legislative assembly has been dissolved, paving the way for the state’s upcoming election.

Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution after obtaining the consent of Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim earlier today.

He said the move would allow the people of Johor to elect a new state government and secure a mandate to continue the state’s development agenda.

“The Election Commission will ensure the necessary steps to determine the dates for nomination, early voting and polling for the 16th Johor state election,” he said in a brief special media conference held at the Johor Menteri Besar’s official residence in Saujana here today.

Onn Hafiz, who is also the Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and state Umno chief, was accompanied by the state legislative assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

In attendance was also the incumbent ruling assemblyman during the announcement.

The Johor state legislative assembly, which has 56 seats, is scheduled to end its term on April 21 next year. 

Under the provisions of the legislation, the EC is given up to 60 days after the dissolution of the state assembly to hold the election.

The previous Johor state election was held in March 2022. At that time, BN, led by its lynchpin party Umno, formed the state government after winning a supermajority of 40 of the 56 contested state assembly seats.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) won 12 seats with DAP obtaining 10 seats, while PKR and Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) won one seat each.

Perikatan Nasional (PN) won three seats, while the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) obtained one seat.