Currently, there are eight states which have agreed to resume assembly sittings and have either fixed the dates or are awaiting consent from their Rulers and governors.
FMT takes a look at what each state is saying about reconvening its assembly session.
Perlis
Speaker Hamdan Bahari said on June 18 that the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail, has consented to the convening of the state assembly and has agreed to officiate its first meeting on Aug 24.
Hamdan said Perlis has no problems convening the state assembly as the Emergency will end on Aug 1.
Perlis has become the first state to set a definite date for the state legislative assembly.
Selangor
Both the opposition and government assemblymen have come out in support of the state government’s move to reconvene the state assembly soon.
In a joint statement, the heads of government backbenchers and the opposition said the state assembly was an important platform to discuss issues affecting the people as Selangor fights off the pandemic.
On June 17, Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said he would have a discussion with the speaker of the state assembly to begin planning the implementation of the royal instructions as soon as possible.
A day later, state speaker Ng Suee Lim said he would seek the consent of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, to convene the assembly sitting in August.
The Selangor assembly is expected to reconvene earliest by the third week of August.
Melaka
Deputy speaker Ghazale Muhamad said on June 19 that there was a discussion with state assembly speaker Ab Rauf Yusoh to have an audience with the Yang di-Pertua Negeri to secure his consent for the state legislative assembly to reconvene.
It was reported that the Melaka legislative assembly is expected to convene in the middle of July at the latest after the date is gazetted. It might be the earliest state to convene a sitting.
Johor
On June 17, menteri besar Hasni Mohammad revealed that the state government would identify a suitable date soon to reconvene the state assembly.
However, speaker Suhaizan Kayat said his office had not received any instructions yet. He told FMT the menteri besar would instruct the assembly secretary if he wanted the assembly to meet.
“The secretary will then issue notices calling for the sitting.”
Penang
Chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said on June 17 that the governor will write to the King to consult him on holding a state assembly sitting according to the provisions of the federal emergency laws.
Chow said the state has been eager to hold an assembly session and had held a meeting, with strict Covid-19 protocols in place, last October without facing any problems.
In a statement, Chow thanked the King and the Rulers for urging that Parliament and state assemblies be held as it was an important platform to discuss measures in curtailing Covid-19 and other concerns faced by the rakyat during the pandemic.
On June 18, Chow met with the governor and it was revealed that the governor had consented to bring the request to reconvene the state assembly to the King.
Sabah
Chief minister Hajiji Noor said on June 18 that Sabah was ready to hold its state assembly sitting any time the situation permits.
He said he would seek advice from the National Security Council and will be ready to resume the sitting of the state assembly under strict SOPs.
Hajiji said he had held a discussion with assembly speaker Kadzim Yahya on June 17 following the King’s decree that Parliament should sit as soon as possible.
Negeri Sembilan
Menteri besar Aminuddin Harun said on June 18 the state government would also seek the consent of the King through the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, to convene the state assembly.
Aminuddin said a discussion was held on June 17 with assembly speaker Zulkefly Mohamad Omar to plan the sitting.
“I will present the resolutions of the discussion to Tuanku Muhriz to get his consent.
“The state assembly shall be summoned, prorogued and dissolved on a date deemed appropriate by the King after consultation with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan,” he said in a statement.
Pahang
Menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said on June 18 that Pahang was prepared to reconvene the state assembly once it receives the consent of the Pahang Regent, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah.
The state assembly sitting is scheduled between Aug 16 and 20. Assemblymen have been told to submit their motions which will be tabled during the sitting to the state assembly secretariat before June 30.
Recently, state speaker Ishak Muhammad said the sitting, to be held for five days in August, was tentatively fixed last year.
Other states
Terengganu, Kelantan and Kedah, all PAS-held states, will only hold a sitting once Parliament reconvenes or if they receive instructions to do so.
As for Sarawak, its state legislative assembly will likely not reconvene as its five-year term ended on June 6.
However, it will not be dissolved until Aug 1 due to the emergency ordinance. Once the Emergency is lifted, the Sarawak state assembly will be dissolved and the state election will need to be held.