KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s announcement today on the dissolution of Parliament was a cue to the other state governments to seek a similar declaration to dissolve their respective legislatures.
Some have been quick in obtaining the consent of their respective heads of state to dissolve their state legislatures, paving the way for state elections the same time as the federal polls.
Other mentris besar and chief ministers have demurred from proclaiming the dissolution of their state legislative assemblies, deferring to certain protocol.
Sarawak is the only state that need not dissolve its legislature as the current Barisan Nasional state government’s mandate will not expire this year.
The PBB-led state government was reelected to power on May 7, 2016 and its five-year term will end only in 2021.
Of the 13 states, six have announced the dissolution of their legislature tomorrow, the same as the 13th Parliament. They are: Perlis, Kelantan, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Sabah.
The remaining five states to announce dissolution are: Penang, Selangor, Perak, Terengganu and Pahang.
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng indicated dissolution will likely only be announced next week after the state government holds an executive council meeting.
“We can only confirm the date after the exco meeting is held. It’s definitely not this week, but next week,” Lim who is also DAP secretary-general said.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said he had requested an audience with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to dissolve the state assembly, but did not indicate a time frame for the meeting.
Similarly, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob is scheduled to have an audience with Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah tomorrow to get the Regent’s consent, but without a confirmed date to dissolve its legislature.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir is expected to meet Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah at 11am in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.
Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said he is scheduled to meet the state Ruler, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin only at 8am next Wednesday to obtain the sultan’s consent to dissolve the state assembly.
