Kedah Speaker denies rumours of state assembly dissolution

ALOR SETAR: Kedah Speaker Datuk Juhari Bulat has dismissed rumours that the state Legislative Assembly is on the verge of dissolution, following talks that some assemblymen will withdraw their support from the state government.

Describing the talks as a political gimmick, Juhari said there is no reason for the state government to collapse.

"State assembly is stable, nothing will change," he said when approached by reporters after the state level Chinese New Year open house at Dewan Seri Mentaloon here on Monday (Feb 7).

When asked if the trend of state assembly dissolution in Johor will spread to Perak and subsequently in Kedah, he said the administration of state government under Perikatan Nasional coalition is intact.

The Ayer Hangat assemblyman, who is from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), said Kedah has managed to attract total investments of almost RM50bil last year, despite facing the global economic gloom due to Covid-19, and everyone should play their part in maintaining its success.

He also dismissed talk that there are several Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) members switching allegiance, causing the state government to collapse.

"I don't see it happening, it's illogical to happen," he said, adding that even if the two Umno lawmakers withdraw their support, it will not affect the state government.

Last month, Umno's Bandar Baharu assemblyman Datuk Norsabrina Mohd Noor denied allegations that she and another assemblyman from the party will withdraw their support for the Kedah government, which had gone viral on social media.

Norsabrina, however, said that she had never talked about or discussed such a matter with anyone, and that she was focusing on her responsibilities as the people's elected representative to develop the state.

The state government under Perikatan led by PAS controls 23 of the 36 state assembly seats, with PAS having 15 seats followed by Bersatu and Umno with six and two seats, respectively.

As for the Pakatan Harapan Opposition coalition, PKR has five seats while Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and DAP have four and two seats, respectively.

Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang), which is also in the Opposition, has two seats.