2 days ago
Sabah assembly to be dissolved in mid-Sept?
KOTA KINABALU: With less than three months remaining before the automatic dissolution of the current five-year term of the Sabah assembly, political circles are anticipating that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor will call for elections by mid-September.
Talk among the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) political circles is the possibility of Hajiji calling for the election on the second week of September or immediately after Malaysia Day on Sept 16.
They anticipate the dissolution could happen after the main Malaysia Agreement 1963 Action and Implementation Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that is scheduled for Sept 12 in Kuala Lumpur.
Sabah hopes to see positive progress in negotiations regarding the 40% federal revenue returns to the state.
The state has worked out an interim 40% share formula for federal tax revenues returns as a temporary measure to be discussed at the meeting that will be attended by Hajiji and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Any positive outcomes during the meetings especially on the issue of Sabah's 40% claim would bolster electoral mood in favour of the ruling state government under GRS and Sabah Pakatan Harapan.
"We have to see the meeting outcome. If it is positive, it will be good for both GRS and Pakatan who are now working on an electoral pact," a GRS leader, who declined to be named, said.
Some political chatter does not discount the possibility of a dissolution in early September just after the Aug 31 National Day celebrations.
The 16th Sabah Legislative Assembly automatically dissolves on Nov 11 to pave way for the 17th state election that should be held within 60 days of dissolution.
Sabah Umno election director Jeffrey Nor Mohamed said that he believes GRS and Hajiji are waiting for the current issues, including the tragic death of Zara Qairina Mahathir and the ongoing corruption issues linked to the videos, to subside.
"It is possible they will go for dissolution in the second week of September and probably an election in October," said Jeffrey, whose Sabah chapter of Barisan-Umno is against working with GRS, which is also part of the federal unity government.
Opposition Parti Warisan information chief Datuk Azis Jamman said that Warisan is already in election mode, actively engaging in all 73 state seats.
"As far as we are concerned, its already election mode with less than three months to dissolution. It is up to Hajiji to decide the dissolution," he said.
