KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor bantered with reporters on Saturday (Aug 30), saying they could take their leave in the next week or two before any announcement is made on the dissolution of the Sabah Assembly.
"It'll be a while before we dissolve the assembly... you can take another one or two weeks leave," Hajiji replied, teasing reporters when asked if the dissolution of the assembly would be soon.
The Chief Minister gave brief remarks after the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Sabah region Malaysian Building Academy campus in Beringgis, Papar on Saturday.
However, he declined to give any possible dates for the dissolution of the 16th Sabah Legislative Assembly, whose five-year term would automatically end on Nov 11, paving the way for an election.
Political circles anticipate Hajiji to call for the election by mid September, before or after Malaysia Day on Sept 16, with the 17th state election likely to be held by early October.
Asked if the date of the dissolution would be after Malaysia Day, he said "just wait, we will call you."
Hajiji, who leads the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Pakatan Harapan coalition government, is in negotiations with Pakatan on seat sharing under an electoral pact.
However, Pakatan has largely solidified its electoral pact with Barisan, with only a few overlapping seats to be resolved.
Sabah Barisan, who worked with GRS to win the state government from Parti Warisan-Pakatan in the 2020 state election, is now against working with GRS after their fallout in January 2023.
Warisan, which is a member of the federal unity government, has remained in opposition at the state level and is contesting solo.
