Negri Sembilan state legislative assembly to dissolve

TERM ENDS MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY: State govt will function in caretaker role from Thursday
SEREMBAN: THE Negri Sembilan state legislative assembly will be dissolved on Thursday, making it the first in the country to be automatically disbanded after the 2008 general election.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said after the dissolution, its state executive committee would continue to function as the caretaker state government as provided for under the state constitution.

"Under Article 56 (3) of the Undang-Undang Tubuh Negeri Sembilan 1959 (the Laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan 1959), unless the state assembly is dissolved earlier than the end of its five-year term, then it will be automatically dissolved five years from the date of the first sitting of the assembly.

"Under the Interpretations Acts 1948 and 1967, the end of the five-year term falls on the day after the first sitting of the assembly and not on the 'hari kejadian' (date of occurrence) which falls on March 28," he told a hastily-called press conference at his official residence yesterday.

Previously, Mohamad was reported to have said that today was the last day of the state assembly and that the state legislative assembly would be automatically dissolved tomorrow.

Earlier at a function where he handed over loans and tithes to some Negri Sembilan Islamic Council-sponsored students from the Middle East, Mohamad said since the five-year period had automatically lapsed, there was no need for him to obtain the consent of the state ruler for dissolution.

"Starting Thursday, I will cease to be a 'wakil rakyat' as the state assembly is dissolved but I am still the menteri besar heading the caretaker government to oversee the daily running of the state administration, including taking care of the well-being of the people and salary payment of civil servants.

"There has to be a caretaker government because we will have to pay wages and look into other matters during the period... Without a caretaker government, there will be anarchy.

"However, we will not draft any new policy or make big decisions such as approving the sale of thousands of acres of land.

"We cannot do that as it is immoral and unethical even though we are still in power."

Mohamad, who is also Negri Sembilan Islamic Council (MAINS) chairman, handed over per capita allocations to Sekolah Menengah Agama Negeri, Sekolah Agama Bantuan Rakyat, Sekolah Agama Rakyat, Kelas Al-Quran and Fardu Ain, Sekolah Tahfiz and Tadika Islam.

Mohamad said after the state assembly was dissolved, the Election Commission has a maximum of 60 days to call for a state election.

Mohamad, who is also Barisan Nasional state liaison committee chief, said there would be no changes in the allocation of seats for state BN component parties in the next general election.

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has also been informed about this when we met during the nationwide BN state liaison chiefs meeting held recently."



Read more: Negri state assembly to dissolve - General - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/negri-state-assembly-to-dissolve-1.241940?localLinksEnabled=false#ixzz2Oc8M5cBk