KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — Pahang and Perlis were the first two states to dissolve their respective state assemblies today, five days after the dissolution of the 14th Parliament.
The dissolution of the respective state assemblies for the 14th term came into force today to enable the state elections to be held simultaneously with the 15th General Election (GE15).
Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail was the first to announce the state assembly’s dissolution after receiving the consent of the Regent of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
According to Wan Rosdy, the state’s decision to hold the polls simultaneously with GE15 was based on a number of reasons, with the key factor being to avoid multiple elections being held within a short period of time.
He said elections conducted simultaneously would save costs in various aspects such as management and operations, and that the formation and dissolution of the state and federal governments at the same time would facilitate various administrative affairs.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the dissolution of the 14th Parliament on October 10 after receiving the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, paving the way for GE15 to be held.
Ismail Sabri also recommended that heads of state governments, except for Sabah, Sarawak, Melaka and Johor, obtain the consent of their respective rulers and heads to dissolve their state assemblies, in order to enable state and parliamentary elections to be held simultaneously.
Taking the cue from the recommendation was Perlis Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man who announced the dissolution of the state assembly today after obtaining the consent of the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, yesterday.
In Perak, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad was granted an audience with the Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah on Wednesday to seek His Royal Highness’ consent to dissolve the state assembly.
Meanwhile, PAS, which governs Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, maintained its stance not to dissolve the state assemblies in the three states following its Central Working Committee Meeting, yesterday.
The three Pakatan Harapan-led states of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang, meanwhile, are still bound by a decision made by the PH Presidential Council not to dissolve their respective state assemblies if GE15 were held this year.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, however, is reported to be adamant about dissolving the Penang State Assembly so that the state elections can run concurrently with GE15.
Earlier today, Ismail Sabri was reported to have said that GE15 would continue despite several states refusing to dissolve their respective state assemblies. — Bernama
