Kedah ruler Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah today consented to the dissolution of the state legislative assembly effective Wednesday (June 28) to pave the way for the state election.

Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said he was granted an audience by the sultan (above) this morning for the purpose of seeking the consent of His Royal Highness to dissolve the 14th Kedah state assembly.

“His Royal Highness gave his consent for the dissolution of the 14th Kedah state assembly on June 28, 2023,” he told a press conference after the audience in Alor Setar.

Sanusi said the existing state government would act as a caretaker government until after the state election.

With the consent given by the sultan, the state assembly will be dissolved six days before the expiry of its term on July 4.

The assembly sat for the first time on July 3, 2018 after the 14th general election (GE14) on May 9, 2018.

Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor

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 secured 15 seats and BN three.

In November 2018, Guar Chempedak assemblyperson Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail announced his departure from Umno and became an independent before joining Bersatu, increasing Harapan’s seats in the assembly to 19.

However, Bersatu then left Harapan and two PKR assemblypersons announced they were leaving the party to become independent representatives on May 12, 2020.

Lunas assemblyperson Azman Nasrudin and Sidam assemblyperson Robert Ling Kui Ee also expressed their support for Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the leadership of the then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

With the move made by the two assemblypersons, in addition to the withdrawal of support by the four Bersatu assemblypersons, the then menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir lost his majority in the assembly and he announced his resignation on May 17, 2020.

PN then formed the state government after having 23 seats consisting of PAS (15), Bersatu (four), as well as the support of BN (two), and two independent representatives (former PKR assemblypersons). Sanusi took his oath of office on May 17, 2020.

Shuffling of allegiances

Meanwhile, Mukhriz, who is the Jitra assemblyperson and Anak Bukit assemblyperson Amiruddin Hamzah were dropped from Bersatu on May 28, 2020 and joined Parti Pejuang Tanah Air which was founded by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The two former PKR assemblypersons who became independent announced they were joining Bersatu in September 2020.

Following GE15 last November and the formation of the federal government with the cooperation of Harapan and BN among others, PN has 21 seats in Kedah without the support of two BN assemblypersons.

On Dec 18, Gurun assemblyperson Johari Abdul of PKR announced he would be vacating the seat with immediate effect.

Belantek assemblyperson Mohd Isa Shafie of PAS died after suffering from a bacterial infection in the heart, lungs, and kidneys on June 14.

In the Kedah assembly, PN now has 20 seats (PAS-14, Bersatu-six); Harapan 10 (PKR-five, Amanah-three, DAP-two); BN two (Umno-two), and Pejuang (two), while the other two seats left by Johari and Mohd Isa remain vacant.

- Bernama

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