SEREMBAN - The heat is on for the six state elections as Negeri Sembilan became the last state to dissolve its State Legislative Assembly today.
On Wednesday, state Election Commission director Mohd Heikal Kamarudin received the notice of the dissolution of the state assembly from its secretary Mohd Amin Ludin to make way for the state polls to be held.
Starting today, Negeri Sembilan will be administered by a caretaker government until a new government is formed after the polls.
Negeri Sembilan is also the only state that has fully utilised the five-year mandate for its 14th State Legislative Assembly. Among the six states facing the election, Kelantan was the first to dissolve its state assembly on June 22, followed by Selangor on June 23, and Penang, Kedah and Terengganu on June 28.
The first sitting of the Negeri Sembilan state assembly was held on July 1, 2018, after the 14th General Election (GE14) on May 9 that year.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun announced the state assembly dissolution date after receiving the consent of Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir.
The state has 36 constituencies, with PH currently holding 20 seats comprising DAP (11), PKR (six) and Amanah (three), while Barisan Nasional (BN) has 16 seats held by Umno (15) and MIC (one).
During the term, one by-election was held for the Rantau state seat after the Federal Court dismissed Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan’s appeal against the Seremban Election Court’s decision on Nov 16, 2018, which declared his victory in GE 14 as being null and void.
However, the Umno deputy president defended the seat in the by-election held on April 13, 2019, with a majority of 4,510 votes defeating his three challengers, namely Dr S. Streram of PH and two Independent candidates -- housewife R. Malarvizhi and former lecturer Mohd Nor Yassin.
The upcoming state election will be a significant test of the integrated strength of PH and BN as they work together to defend the state. - BERNAMA