Report Says Parliament Will Be Dissolved Between 28 To 30 March
GE14 likely to be held by first week of May 2018.
By Sadho Ram — 16 Mar 2018, 02:10 PM
Malaysian Parliament is expected to be dissolved by March end
According to The Star Online, the dates on which Parliament is expected to be dissolved are between 28 to 30 March to make way for GE14 that must be held by August. The English daily, however, did not give any sources for its report.
The dissolution of Parliament, however, is dependent on when the new electoral boundaries will be adopted, the motion for which is expected to be tabled on Monday, 19 March, The Star Online said
"The fact that the motion need not go through the Dewan Negara – which shortens the time to enforce the re-delineation – is also another reason political pundits are targeting the end of March (for the dissolution of Parliament).
"The re-delineation of parliamentary and state constituencies will be enforced immediately once it receives royal assent and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's signature," the English daily said in its report dated 15 March.
The English daily cited Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi's remarks earlier this week when he told editors that the moment lawmakers concluded the debate on the motion of thanks on the royal address, ministers would take their turns to wind up
"After this, Bills will be tabled. Then, we will table the motion on the proposed redelineation. After it has been debated and passed, it will be gazetted upon receiving royal assent," Zahid had said.
"The dissolution of Parliament is expected next, along with the Election Commission setting the dates for nomination and polling," he added.
Based on the dissolution dates, a political analyst quoted by The Star Online said by the time polling takes place it will be early May
"If it is the end of March, by the time polling takes place it will be early May. Whatever it is, the general election needs to be over by mid-May – before Muslims begin their fasting in the month of Ramadan," Political analyst Prof Datuk Abdul Halim Sidek of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan told The English daily.
Meanwhile, NST Online reports that Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to launch Barisan Nasional's manifesto on a grand scale at Stadium Putra in Bukit Jalil on 7 April in front of coalition supporters
Earlier, PM Najib had said that BN's manifesto for GE14 would be the best for the coalition to continue its people-centric agenda for the next five years.
It cited UMNO information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa, saying that the BN manifesto would be revealed next month, who, however, declined to give further details.
"All I can say is, just wait... (the wait) is not going to be too long. The (BN) manifesto will be far better," NST Online quoted him as saying.
In a more definite sign that the 14th General Elections will be held by the first week of May, Malaysia Human Resources Minister said that his ministry has postponed labour day celebrations on 1 May
"There is a high chance that election campaigning is going on during May 1 ... that's why the ministry has decided to postpone the labour day celebration.
"This is not something new, in the last election, similarly (the celebration was) postponed until Jun 23 to make way for GE13 that fell on May 5," Channel NewsAsia quoted the Human Resources Minister, Richard Riot, as saying.