Wednesday, April 03, 2013 

UPDATE: Najib announces dissolution of Parliament

Khaidir Abdul Majib | news@nst.com.my 

 

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak dissolved the parliament this morning paving the way for the general election, ending months of speculation. 

“This morning I had an audience with the yang di-Pertuan Agong and received His Majesty’s consent to dissolve Parliament,” he said. 

“This dissolution which is effective today,  will pave the way for the 13th general election,” said Najib in a live televised address from his office in Putrajaya.

In the 12-minute speech that began slightly after 11:30am, Najib flanked on his right by his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,  called on the leaders of the state governments to dissolve their respective legislative assemblies so that elections for parliament and state seats can be carried out simultaneously.

He asked all political parties contesting the election to respect the wishes of the people.

The premier also called for a smooth and calm transition should there be any change in the government of the day, whether at the state or federal level.

Najib who marked his full four years in office today, also gave his assurance that the country's administration would continue to be carried out responsibly under the caretaker government led by him.

It is expected that 11 state assemblies will also be dissolved today or tomorrow to facilitate the general election. 

The Negeri Sembilan state assembly was dissolved automatically on March 27 while Sarawak had its state election in April 2012 and not expected to be dissolved.

The Election Commission will meet Friday or early next week to decide on the dates for nomination and polling, said its deputy Chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

At stake will be 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats (except for the Sarawak state legislative assembly which term only ends in May 2016).

The 13th general election marks the first time that Najib is leading Barisan Nasional into the general election since taking over as Prime Minister from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on April3, 2009

According to Federal Constitution, a general election must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of parliament.

Election regulations stipulate that the earliest nominations can be held is four days after the dissolution of parliament or a state assembly, while the earliest polling dates are seven days after nomination.

In the last general election, the parliament was dissolved on February 13, 2008 which was a Wednesday while the nomination day was on February 24 which was a Sunday and polling was held on March 8, 2013 which was a Saturday.

A total of 13.34 million Malaysians will be eligible to cast their votes in the 13th edition of the polls, including 3.9 million new voters based on the fourth quarter of the electoral roll which gazetted on February 22 this year.

 

 

New Straits Time Wednesday 3 April,2013.

Che'Yahya Che'Soh

Principal SMKSB@STAR

Kuala Lumpur.

Wednesday 3 April,2013.