PH YET TO MAKE A FIRM DECISION
At the same time, states under PH have yet to make a firm decision on whether to dissolve the state assemblies.
PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim said although the three states under the coalition – Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan were still tied to an earlier decision by the PH presidential council not to dissolve the state assemblies, the state politicians have been told to hold detailed discussions with their component party leadership to find common ground.
“Discuss again in detail with the party leadership for a joint decision to be made,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama after a PH presidential council meeting on Wednesday.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) secretary-general Anthony Loke said on Tuesday that the Penang state chapter of his party has asked for a review of the decision against dissolving the state assembly.
“There are views from many people, especially in Penang, for the elections to be held at the same time,” he was quoted as saying by local media.
Selangor chief minister Amirudin Shari said on Tuesday that Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah wanted the current PH state government to complete its full term
This was announced following an audience with the sultan earlier that day.
Negeri Sembilan chief minister Aminuddin Harun also said on Tuesday that there is no plan to dissolve the assembly, although PH’s presidential council would have the final say on the matter.
He was quoted as saying by local media that he had informed Negri Sembilan ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir of the decision to hold state elections next year.
“Tuanku said that if the current state government still has the mandate from the people, there’s no harm to hold off the state election until next year,” he said.
On Thursday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang confirmed in a statement that the three state assemblies led by his party – Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan will not be dissolved. PAS is a component party of Perikatan Nasional.
An election was not due until September 2023, but Mr Ismail Sabri had been under pressure from some factions of his ruling coalition to hold the vote earlier.
Shortly after Mr Ismail Sabri announced the dissolution of parliament, Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negara, Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin said that the king had no choice but to consent.
“The king expressed his disappointment in the current political developments of the country and had no choice but to consent to the prime minister’s request to return the mandate back to the people for a stable government,” he said on Monday.
The caretaker prime minister later said that he opted to dissolve parliament in order to prevent disharmony in the Cabinet, after PN ministers wrote to the king to voice their objections over holding polls during this year’s monsoon season.
The Election Commission will have a special meeting on Oct 20 to discuss and set important dates for GE15 and the state by-election for Bugaya in Sabah.