YONG PENG: There is nothing out of the ordinary about the dissolution of the Johor legislative assembly as the state administration has passed its four-year mark, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi’s dissolution announcement was done in accordance with the state constitution and standard procedures.
“The full term for the state administration is five years. Most of the time, when an administration enters the fourth year mark, an election can be called at any time - this is no different from what has happened in the past.
“Hence, the term snap election is not valid. Snap polls refer to an election that is called within a year or a year and a half,” he told reporters when attending the Ayer Hitam MCA division meeting here on Monday (June 1).
Earlier, Onn Hafiz announced the dissolution in Johor Baru after seeking the consent of Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, paving the way for the 16th state election.
Dr Wee also called out DAP leaders who claimed Johor Barisan Nasional called for the state election because the coalition “does not dare” to hold the polls concurrently with the general election.
“If they want them held together, why don’t they call for a general election since they hold the decision-making power?
“The Johor government actually expires nine months earlier than the federal government’s term, so it is legally impossible for the state to wait for the federal government to reach its full five-year term,” he said.
Touching on MCA’s preparedness for the state polls, Dr Wee said the election machinery had started six months ago with regular training and engagements conducted.
He said due diligence has also been done for MCA candidates in preparation for the polls.
Asked whether seat allocations had been finalised for Barisan, Dr Wee said some movements are inevitable but there would not be significant changes to the seats.
Johor last went to the polls on March 12, 2022, where Barisan secured a two-thirds majority by winning 40 of the 56 seats in the state assembly.
The upcoming election will be the 16th state election in Johor since the first state polls were held in 1955.
