Activists seek clarity on date of automatic dissolution for Sabah assembly

Activists seek clarity on date of automatic dissolution for Sabah assembly

They cite a conflict in information from the state assembly speaker and when the house first convened following the 2020 state polls.

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Sabah’s 17th state election must be held within 60 days of the legislative assembly’s dissolution. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA:
Several activists have asked Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor to clarify when the state assembly will automatically dissolve, citing public confusion over the date.

Speaker Kadzim Yahya had said that the Sabah assembly would automatically dissolve on Nov 11, as that was when the state legislature first convened in 2020 after the 16th state election.

However, the activists pointed out that the state assembly first sat on Oct 9, 2020, for the oath-taking ceremony of the elected assemblymen.

“We Sabahans are entitled to know without any doubt when our representatives’ mandate ends.

“We also call upon the office of the Sabah attorney-general to officially announce the last day of the 16th state legislature, to avoid confusion and potential constitutional violation,” they said in a statement.

The statement was signed by former Bersih vice-chairman Beverly Joeman, Mandiri Borneo director Wong Kueng Hui, Legal Dignity founder Andi Suraidah, Irwan Idris and Mary Anne Baltazar.

The state election must be held within 60 days of the assembly’s dissolution.

On Sunday, Hajiji said the Sabah assembly would be dissolved before its term expires to pave the way for the state polls.

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