Penang expected to dissolve state assembly at end of June, says Chief Minister

GEORGE TOWN: Penang is expected to dissolve its state legislative assembly in the last 10 days of June, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

However, he added that the state has yet to decide on the date of the dissolution pending a decision by the Pakatan Harapan presidential council.

"It may be announced within the last 10 days of this month but there is no specific date yet. If the presidential council can decide on this, then we shall follow it,” said Chow.

"However, if there is no decision from the presidential council, the state assembly will dissolve within the last 10 days of June," he said.

Chow said this when speaking to reporters after opening the Interactive Edutainment Programme at the Gleneagles Hospital Penang on Monday (June 5).

He said he hopes to announce the dissolution after the last state executive council meeting (MMK).

"We still have two or three meetings to go. The last date of the meeting will finalise the date of the dissolution.

On the seat negotiations for Penang, Chow said it is 95% complete.

"The third and final meeting for seat negotiation will be held in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (June 6)," he said, adding that there could be one or two seats which have yet to be finalised due to overlapping issues as incumbent candidacy.

The six states – Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan – did not dissolve their state assemblies to hold state polls along with parliamentary polls in the 15th General Election on Nov 19, 2022.

The Election Commission had said that the six states should consider holding the polls simultaneously, adding that holding it together would cost RM450mil.

The Selangor state assembly is set to automatically dissolve on June 26 and elections must be held within 60 days by Aug 26.

The Kelantan state assembly will automatically dissolve on June 28, Terengganu (July 1), Negri Sembilan (July 2), Kedah (July 4) and Penang (Aug 2).