Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud today announced that the state assembly will be dissolved on Monday, paving the way for state polls.
The Malaysian Insider had reported yesterday that the 71-seat state legislature could be dissolved as early as Monday, with nomination day and polling day likely in April, three months before Taib’s mandate ends on July 23.
Taib (picture), the country’s longest-serving chief minister who has helmed Sarawak since 1981, said he would first lead the Barisan Nasional (BN) to victory and then set forth a smooth power transition.
Polling for the 10th state election must be held within 60 days from Monday.
The white-haired Taib has attracted much criticism over his unwillingness to step down or nurture successors. In addition, he has been hit by waves of accusations of corruption and nepotism, with anti-graft body Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) joining the call in asking the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the allegations.
Some in BN feel that Taib should not contest the polls but others feel that only the strongman will be able to hold the coalition together and deliver the timber-rich state to the ruling federal coalition, which considers Sarawak and Sabah as its “fixed-deposit” vote bank.
Taib said he submitted a notice about the matter to Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng recently.
The Election Commission (EC) would decide on the dates for the nomination and polling, he said, ending months of speculations on the state election.
Taib made the announcement at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at Kuching International Airport here.
Najib and Muhyiddin, who arrived last night, attended a host of programmes with the people today.
The current term of the state assembly expires on July 23. The last state election was held on May 20, 2006.
