Malaysian States Of Kedah, Penang & Terengganu To Dissolve Their Assemblies This Week

The states of Kedah, Penang and Terengganu are preparing to dissolve their legislatures this Wednesday (June 28) to pave the way for the expected state elections, following similar measures taken by the governments of Selangor, Kelantan and Negeri Sembilan.

• Local media reported that the Sultan of Kedah has consented to dissolve the state assembly effective Wednesday after an audience with the state's Menteri Besar (head of government) yesterday.
• Kedah is currently ruled by Perikatan Nasional, a right-wing political alliance led by former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, which at the federal level occupies opposition benches.
• Meanwhile, Penang Chief Minister will meet with the local Governor tomorrow morning to obtain his consent for calling an election, with the formal announcement expected at 14:30 local time.
• Penang State Assembly is dominated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Harapan, which controls 33 out of 40 seats. The government is supported by additional two Barisan Nasional lawmakers under the federal coalition agreement.
• Also tomorrow, Terengganu Menteri Besar will also meet with the Sultan of Terengganu to ask for a dissolution of the legislature. The date of the election will be announced after the audience slated for 09:00 local time.
• Perikatan Nasional holds 23 seats in the 33-strong Terengganu assembly, all of them controlled by the bloc's member party PAS.
• Kedah, Penang and Terengganu are among the six states which refused to dissolve their legislatures when a federal election was called last year, but their terms will soon expire. They are the last ones to dissolve their assemblies.