KOTA KINABALU: Political watchers are weighing in on the possibility of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor dissolving the state assembly within days after his Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat)’s three-day congress beginning July 25.
With only four months until the automatic dissolution on Nov 11, some analysts speculate that Hajiji is likely to call for it before National Day though some within Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) are keen for elections to take place after Malaysia Day.
It remains unclear whether Hajiji will call for a GRS supreme council meeting immediately after his party congress to discuss dates for a dissolution.
A leader with GRS indicated that there was no scheduled GRS supreme council meeting or any planned convention among parties so far this month.
But they expect Hajiji to have a clear mandate from his party on its alliances and preferred dissolution dates after his party congress.
Some members within the eight-party grouping prefer having the state assembly go into a full term so that they could capitalise on Sabah Day, which marks the state’s independence from British colonial rule on on Aug 31, 1963.
They have indicated that celebrating Sabah Day on Aug 31 would boost the coalition’s push for state autonomy, in line with the groundswell for state’s rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963, the basis of Sabah joining the federation.
Though many feel it makes little difference, some leaders are of the view that celebrating Sabah Day before the election would be a boost and help create a feel-good sentiment for GRS, which had been caught in issues related to graft allegations and delayed infrastructure deliveries.
On his part, Hajiji had said that he would get the consensus of GRS leaders before approaching Governor Tun Musa Aman for the dissolution of the assembly.
Political analyst Prof Dr Romzi Ationg, a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, believed Hajiji would likely seek the dissolution of the assembly within days after the Gagasan Rakyat congress.
“I don’t think Hajiji will wait any longer.
“I believe the Chief Minister needs to weigh in on the views of some of his federal counterparts who want to see an election held sooner.
“But many are hoping that GRS will opt for a full term as they are in a dire need to solve or at least minimise problems such as water shortage and electricity issues,” Romzi said.
Sabah’s last election was held on Sept 26, 2020.
State assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya has explained previously that the automatic dissolution will take place on Nov 11, if the assembly is not dissolved before that.
He said the five-year term of the 16th Sabah assembly is calculated from the date of its first sitting on Nov 12, 2020.
