ALOR SETAR: Sultan of Kedah Al-Aminul Karim Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah has consented to the dissolution of the Kedah state assembly effective Wednesday to pave the way for the state election.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said he was granted an audience by Sultan Sallehuddin yesterday.
“His Royal Highness gave his consent for the dissolution of the 14th Kedah state assembly on June 28,” he told a press conference after the audience.
Muhammad Sanusi said the current state government would act as a caretaker government until after the state polls.
With the consent given by the state Ruler, the state assembly will be dissolved six days before the expiration of its term on July 4.
The Kedah state assembly sat for the first time on July 3, 2018, after the 14th General Election (GE14) on May 9, 2018.
In GE14, Pakatan Harapan – which contested using the PKR logo – formed the Kedah government after winning 18 out of 36 state assembly seats while PAS won 15 seats and Barisan Nasional got three.
Way paved for state election: Muhammad Sanusi waving as he arrives at Wisma Darul Aman in Alor Setar. — Bernama
In November 2018, Guar Chempedak assemblyman Datuk Dr Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail quit Umno and became an independent before joining Bersatu, increasing Pakatan’s seat count to 19.
However, the change in the political landscape saw Bersatu leave Pakatan while two PKR assemblymen left the party to become Independent representatives on May 12, 2020.
Lunas assemblyman Datuk Azman Nasrudin and Sidam assemblyman Dr Robert Ling Kui Ee also expressed their support for Perikatan Nasional and the leadership of the then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Following this, in addition to the withdrawal of support by the four Bersatu assemblymen, the then mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir lost his majority support.
He announced his resignation on May 17, 2020.
Perikatan then formed the state government with its 23 seats, consisting of PAS (15) and Bersatu (four), as well as the support of Barisan (two) and two Independent representatives.
Muhammad Sanusi took his oath of office on May 17, 2020.
Meanwhile, Mukhriz, who is Jitra assemblyman, and Anak Bukit assemblyman Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah were dropped from Bersatu on May 28, 2020.
Both of them joined Pejuang, which was founded by former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The two former PKR assemblymen announced they would join Bersatu in September 2020.
Following GE15 last November and the formation of the Federal Government with the participation of Barisan, Perikatan has 21 seats without the support of the two Barisan assemblymen.
On Dec 18 last year, Gurun assemblyman Datuk Johari Abdul (now Tan Sri) of PKR vacated his seat.
Three-term Belantek assemblyman Datuk Mohd Isa Shafie of PAS died after suffering from a bacterial infection in the heart, lungs and kidneys on June 14.
Perikatan now has 20 seats (PAS 14, Bersatu six), Pakatan 10 (PKR five, Amanah three, DAP two), Barisan (Umno two) and Pejuang (two) while the other two seats left by Johari and Mohd Isa remain vacant.
