KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad has been granted an audience with Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at 5pm, where he is expected to advise the state ruler on the dissolution of the state assembly, said sources.
The dissolution of the state legislature would pave the way for snap polls, which must be held within 60 days.
This means the state election must be held by March 22.
Meanwhile, Free Malaysia Today reported that the menteri besar is slated to make an announcement on the matter after a special Umno meeting this evening.
Rumours of snap polls have intensified of late, with parties such as MCA and PAS saying they are ready to face the state election.
Calls for a statewide poll started after the passing of Bersatu’s Kempas assemblyman Datuk Osman Sapian on Dec 21, which left the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition with a precarious one-seat majority in the legislature.
Currently, Barisan Nasional has 16 seats, followed by Bersatu with 11 seats and PAS with one.
Meanwhile, Pakatan Harapan’s component parties DAP, PKR and Parti Amanah Negara have 14, seven and six seats respectively for a total of 27 seats.