Selangor MB to seek Sultan’s view on dissolution

It is understood that Khalid (right) intends to seek the state Ruler’s opinion on the possible dissolution. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 ― Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim will today discuss the possible dissolution of the state assembly during his weekly meeting with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, sources from his office have confirmed.

Khalid’s political secretary, Faekah Husin, told The Malaysian Insider that although the first-term mentri besar met with the Selangor Sultan every Wednesday before chairing the state executive council meeting, this morning’s discussion includes a discussion on the proposal to dissolve the state legislature ahead of federal polls.

“MB meets with Tuanku every Wednesday. I think [in this meeting], one of the agenda is the dissolution of the state assembly,” Faekah said in a message this morning.

When pressed for further details, however, she pointed out that she was not directly involved in the meeting.

Malay language daily Sinar Harian today reported rumours that Khalid may seek the Sultan’s consent for dissolution during this morning’s meet.

The paper also cited a confirmation from the Sultan’s private secretary, Datuk Munir Bani, that one of the matters to be discussed today will be the dissolution of the state assembly.

But The Malaysian Insider understands that Khalid only intends to seek the Sultan’s opinion on the matter and will not press for dissolution yet.

When contacted this morning, however, state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar said he has no knowledge of the mentri besar’s plans.

“No, we (the exco) do not know of this. MB meets every week with the Sultan before out exco meeting. He will brief us later on what happened during the meeting,” he said.

Last month, Khalid was reported as saying that Selangor may consider an early dissolution of its state assembly after the Chap Goh Meh celebration if Putrajaya continues to dally on offering a firm date for the general election by then.

Parliament will automatically dissolve on April 28 and elections must be held 60 days from then. The Selangor legislature will automatically dissolve on April 22.

But the mentri besar also confirmed that he would first meet with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders to discuss the issue before announcing the state’s decision.

In response, however, the Election Commission (EC) said the general election would still likely be held on the same date nationwide despite the Selangor government’s wish to dissolve its state legislature earlier than Parliament.

EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar explained that the final decision for the state election date was still up to the EC, including the right to hold elections simultaneously nationwide.

“The state government has the power to dissolve its assembly early, but EC has the power to set the election date.

“The EC has the power to choose a date 60 days after the state assembly’s dissolution ... If we want to hold the general election at the same time, we can choose any date in the 60-day period,” he told a February 14 press conference.

On Monday, Khalid said he welcomed simultaneous elections, adding that the state merely did not want to prolong its mandate as it was ready for the polls.

He had previously said the timing of the dissolution depended on when the prime minister planned to hold polls, and that Selangor’s plan to either hold concurrent or separate elections was a matter of strategy for his administration.

Observers speculate that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is likely to hold elections by March after Putrajaya completes its 1 Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) handout, a programme Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders believe will help to boost the ruling coalition’s chances at the polls.