Abdul Khalid yesterday announced that the state ruler has no objection to an early dissolution of the state assembly.
PETALING JAYA (Feb 21): For the past month, tongues have been wagging over the Selangor government's announcement of a possible early dissolution of the state assembly ahead of national polls.
It all started when Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim disclosed that the state may dissolve the assembly after Chap Goh Mei – if the 13th general election was still not called by then.
He spoke of a general fatigue over the anxiety of waiting for the federal government to call for the election.
And yesterday, the menteri besar announced, after an audience with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, that the state ruler has no objection to an early dissolution of the state assembly.
Certainly, a sizeable portion of the electorate is disconcerted by the wait for the general election.
Many people had to withhold vacation plans. Or worry about career engagements – as they would have to travel back to their hometown to vote – and a host of other problems, just in case they are caught unawares by a general election.
But the question is, why dissolve the state assembly after Chap Goh Mei, which falls this Sunday?
The Election Commission had been quick to point out the financial and logistical burdens of having separate polls.
The EC also stressed that even if the Selangor assembly was dissolved earlier, it was the commission that will decide on the polls date. It has 60 days to do that from the date of dissolution, and so it can still ensure that the state polls are held simultaneously with the general election.
Pointless move?
Talk is that the general election will be held in March or April after major programmes initiated by the Barisan Nasional government, like the distribution of the BR1M handout, are completed.
If the speculation about the national polls is true and if the Selangor government were to proceed with an early dissolution, the state election will fall close to national polls, which renders the state government's move futile.
Abdul Khalid obviously knows this as he has said that he would accept state elections being held simultaneously with parliamentary elections.
Universiti Malaya law lecturer Azmi Sharom feels an early dissolution of the state assembly would probably not occur.
"It will probably come to time with national polls," he told fz.com.
However, the state government has the legal prerogative to dissolve the state assembly whenever it wished, provided it has the consent of the sultan, said Azmi.
"I don't see a problem with it because it is within their rights.
Indeed, the Selangor government should not have any problem now that the sultan has said he would not oppose an early dissolution.
Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Dr P Sivamurugan said the sultan's consent is very important.
This is because a perception that the state government is at odds with the sultan would be disastrous for Pakatan Rakyat in its efforts to woo the Malay electorate.
"Among Malays, loyalty to the palace is important, although some liberal ones would think otherwise," he said.
Although Abdul Khalid has received the green light from the palace, the Pakatan supreme council has not signed off on his proposal for early dissolution.
In fact, the menteri besar said he has only spoken to some Pakatan leaders on this matter.
Azmi said the only advantage Pakatan can reap from an early dissolution is to be able to concentrate all its machinery in Selangor.
However, the same can be said for Barisan Nasional, which has more of an advantage with its wealth, strong machinery and a legion of campaigners to carry out its plans.
Exertion of will or pressure on Najib?
The Pakatan-led Selangor government has been trying to exert its independence since it took over in 2008.
From the restructuring of the water services and solid waste management industries, to the Freedom of Information enactment, the Selangor government has always pushed the envelope where its legal rights are concerned in a federal structure of government.
It is something to admire, especially in a political atmosphere where cynicism reigns.
An early dissolution of the state assembly is just another way for the state government to exert its independence in the race towards polls.
It is also probably a way for Abdul Khalid to pressure Najib to announce elections.
But, as Azmi pointed out, would Najib care?
"BN will do whatever it wants to do anyway," he said.
Either way, many people are taking note of Abdul Khalid's audacity to propose an early dissolution of state assembly.
If anything, it shows the former corporate figure has shed his initial misgivings in playing the political game.
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