Let PH break Kedah stalemate, says law expert

Gurdial Singh Nijar says PH should be given a chance as it is the largest of the three parties in the state assembly.

Constitutional lawyer Gurdial Singh believes a fragile state government may survive. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan should be given priority in efforts to form a new state government in Kedah, says constitutional lawyer Gurdial Singh Nijar.

He said PH, with 18 seats, and the biggest of the three parties with seats in the state assembly, could attempt to form the new state government.

Pakatan Harapan’s rivals are Barisan Nasional with 15 seats and PAS with 3. PH is one seat short of a simple majority in the 36-member house.

Gurdial said PH could form a minority government. “Whether it lasts depends what happens in the legislative assembly later,” he told FMT.

The minority government could survive if it obtained support to pass the state budget and enact legislation. “If there is a stalemate, the menteri besar could advise the Sultan to dissolve the house to call for a fresh election but this must be a last resort,” he said.

Kedah is without a new government and the swearing-in of a menteri besar, scheduled for this evening, has been postponed as no single party held a simple majority of 19 seats.

Elmi Yusoff, the private secretary to the Sultan of Kedah, did not say when the ceremony would be held, or who would be appointed menteri besar.

Perak is similarly faced with a stalemate. PH won 29 seats, one short of a majority in the 59-member legislature, while BN secured 27 and PAS 3. -FMT