KOTA KINABALU: The state assembly will convene next week, but it’s safe to say that the question at the forefront of everyone’s minds is: Will this be the final meeting before a dissolution?
The last state election was held in September 2020. According to the state constitution, the term of the state assembly will automatically “expire” after five years (unless it is dissolved earlier).
An election must then be held within 60 days of the dissolution; in this case, it must take place by November this year.
State Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M. Yahya, however, was non-committal about the fate of the state assembly, which will sit on July 7 and 8.
“If the assembly dissolves thereafter, then this would be the last sitting. If not, there may be a third meeting as per the constitution,” he said.
Next week’s two-day sitting will be the second meeting of the fifth, or final, term of the state assembly. There are usually four meetings in a year.
In an interview, Kadzim acknowledged the buzz around next week’s meeting, saying: “Many people believe it to be the last one before the state assembly is dissolved.”
But for Kadzim, preparations for the meeting are proceeding as usual.
“There are no special arrangements,” he added.
He said several Bills are expected to be tabled, including one involving climate change and Sabah carbon management, and also a supplementary budget for additional expenses.
Others are amendments to Bills concerning matters such as sales tax, and forestry, he added.
However, such Bills are far from the minds of local folk here, judging by the coffeeshop talk going around.
The common refrain heard is “last one, last one”, referring to next week’s meeting as the final one before the big countdown.
Others say “na dia dia sudah laini!” (an election is coming!)
Meanwhile, Sabah Pakatan Harapan component parties have agreed to a timeline in resolving seat distribution as the coalition prepares for the state polls, which are expected to be held soon, according to Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Pakatan secretary-general said the meeting also agreed to focus on the setting up of a strong and stable election machinery, which is crucial to ensure that campaigns and election programmes are run smoothly and effectively.
“It must happen now because (waiting until) the state assembly is dissolved will be too late,” he said after officiating an event at SK Kampung Pangkalan Abai yesterday, Bernama reported.
Saifuddin Nasution, who earlier chaired a meeting with state Pakatan leadership, said discussions also focused on the coalition’s manifesto for the state polls.
He gave assurance that he would come to Sabah to ensure that decisions made at the meeting are implemented.
