GEORGE TOWN: Penang will be governed by a caretaker government until a new state government is formed after the state election, in line Article 7(2) of the state constitution, says Speaker Datuk Law Choo Kiang (pic).
He added that the dissolution of the Penang State Assembly is based on Article 19(2) of the state constitution.
Law said he had received the proclamation of dissolution of the 40-seat 14th state assembly signed by Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.
"The proclamation of dissolution is in line with Article 19(2) of the state constitution," he said during the announcement of the dissolution of the state legislative assembly at Komtar here on Tuesday (June 27).
He added that the Speaker will continue to serve until the new appointment of a new speaker by the state assembly.
"The membership of state assemblymen and all their allowances as well as their privileges will automatically stop on June 28," he said.
All Pakatan Harapan assemblymen were in attendance except the sole Opposition assemblyman Mohd Yusni Mat Piah (Penaga).
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow had said the state assembly will dissolve on Wednesday (June 28) after an audience with the Penang Governor.
He spent about 30 minutes at Seri Mutiara to get the proclamation of dissolution signed by Penang's Head of State, which will pave the way for the state election that is expected to be held in early August.
Six states – Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan – did not dissolve their state assemblies before the 15th General Election on Nov 19 last year.
Kelantan, Selangor and Kedah have officially announced the dissolution of their respective state assemblies on June 22, 23 and 28 respectively.
In the 2008 and 2013 elections, the then-Pakatan Rakyat captured 29 and 30 seats respectively to form the Penang government.
In 2018, Pakatan, then combined with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, won 37 seats, leaving Umno with two seats and PAS with one.
DAP won 19 seats, followed by PKR with 14 and two each from Amanah and Bersatu.
