JOHOR BAHRU, May 29 — The sudden calling of a "mysterious" one-day special sitting of the Johor State Legislative Assembly on June 22 has reignited intense speculation over the potential dissolution of the state government.
Johor Jaya assemblyman Liow Cai Tung disclosed today that she had received a formal notice for the session, noting several "unprecedented" anomalies in the scheduling.
“There has never been consecutive assembly sessions two months in a row. This time, it is only for one day, and there is no Question and Answer (Q&A) session,” Liow said in a social media post.
The unusual nature of the sitting has led to whispers of a state election.
Liow pointed out that while a session is not strictly required to dissolve the assembly, the lack of a standard agenda raises questions about the government’s intentions.
“If it's not to dissolve the Johor State Legislative Assembly, then what is the agenda for this session? Let's guess and see,” she added.
The notice comes just 11 days after Johor Speaker Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi dismissed rumours of an impending dissolution.
On May 18, Puad stated he had no knowledge of such plans, clarifying that any decision regarding a special sitting or dissolution rests solely with Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
At the time, Puad told reporters that the MB must first confirm the need for a special sitting before the Speaker’s office can proceed with a formal notification to the assemblymen.
Departure from convention
State assembly sessions in Johor typically follow a structured format with ample time for debates and oral questions.
A one-day session without a Q&A segment is a significant departure from parliamentary convention, often reserved for specific legislative amendments or major administrative announcements.
The Johor state government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the specific agenda of the upcoming session.
Onn Hafiz previously declared that the Barisan Nasional coalition will contest all 56 seats in the state, notwithstanding its cooperation with Pakatan Harapan in the federal administration.
