Six State Assemblies Dissolved to Pave Way for Polls

KUALA LUMPUR, April 4 (Bernama) -- Wednesday's dissolution of parliament, which paves the way for the 13th general election (13GE) as announced by Prime Minister Najib Razak, was followed by the dissolution of six state assemblies by 12 midnight on Wednesday. With the exception of Malaysian eastern state of Sarawak which is not required to dissolve its state assembly and the Negeri Sembilan assembly having dissolved by itself on March 28, other states are scheduled to dissolve their respective state assemblies soon to enable the Election Commission (EC) to hold the 13GE simultaneously. After the dissolution of parliament, Perlis was the first state to dissolve its state assembly followed by the states of Sabah, Melaka, Perak, Terengganu and Pahang. Four states under opposition rule are expected to make similar announcements on Thursday. In George Town, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said he would announce the dissolution date after meeting Governor Abdul Rahman Abbas on Thursday. In Kota Baharu, Kelantan Chief Minister Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the state assembly will be dissolved in line with the dissolution of parliament. Nik Abdul Aziz is scheduled to seek an audience with Kelantan ruler Sultan Muhammad V at the Telipot Palace on Thursday evening for his consent to dissolve the Kelantan state assembly. He will attend a meeting with Chief Ministers of states under the opposition coalition at the People's Justice Party office in Petaling Jaya, Selangor earlier on the same day. In Dungun, Terengganu Chief Minister Seri Ahmad Said announced the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly at 10pm on Wednesday. Ahmad Said said he had an audience with Terengganu ruler Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin at the Nur Zahirah Palace earlier at 7.45pm and received the latter's consent. "At 9am on Thursday, Terengganu Speaker Tengku Putera Tengku Awang will send a notice to inform the Election Commission (EC) of the dissolution," he told reporters after the announcement. In the 12th General Election, ruling National Front won 24 of the 32 state seats and six of the eight Parliament seats in Terengganu. Meanwhile, in Kuantan, Pahang Chief Minister Seri Adnan Yaakob on Wednesday announced the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly. Speaking to reporters at the Mahkota Palace compound later, Adnan said Pahang ruler Sultan Ahmad Shah had consented to the dissolution of the Pahang state assembly. The five-year term of the Pahang state assembly expires on April 7. The Pahang state assembly has 42 seats and in the 2008 General Election, National Front won 37 seats, Democratic Action Party two seats and independent one seat. Pahang has 14 Parliamentary seats and in the 2008 General Election, National Front won 12 seats while the People's Justice Party won two. -- BERNAMA