KUALA LUMPUR, 8 April 2018:
The prospect of parliamentary and state elections being held over an extended period – with some state legislatures being dissolved later – vaporised as elected officials fell into line for the five-year voting cycle, about two months before the last mandate runs out.
Three more states – Kelantan, Pahang and Kedah – yesterday dissolved their respective state legislative assemblies following the dissolution of the 13th Parliament.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced on Friday the dissolution of parliament effective yesterday to pave the way for the 14th general election (GE14) – in contrast to the normal announcement and dissolution on the same day.
Najib’s announcement on Friday was followed by the same announcement by five states – Sabah, Perlis, Malacca, Johor and Negeri Sembilan – and an additional three states yesterday.
The dissolution of the Kelantan state assembly was announced by Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob after it was consented by Kelantan Regent Dr Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra following an audience with the latter in the national capital.
The Regent of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had given his consent to dissolve the Pahang state assembly to Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob in an audience at Istana Abu Bakar in Pekan, Pahang.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah was given the consent by the Sultan of Kedah Sultan Sallehuddin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah at Istana Darul Aman here to dissolve the Kedah state assembly.
Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng would meet the Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas tomorrow (April 9) to get his approval for the dissolution of the Penang state assembly.
For Selangor, a dissolution ceremony would be held at Istana Alam Shah, Klang tomorrow at 10.30am, after the consent of Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah is received.
The dissolution of the Perak state assembly will be held at a ceremony at Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar tomorrow. The Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah had agreed to make an announcement on the dissolution of the Perak state assembly.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman is scheduled for an audience with Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin on Wednesday (April 11) at Istana Syarqiyyah in Kuala Terengganu to get his approval for the dissolution of the Terengganu state assembly.
– Bernama