MELAKA: The Melaka State Legislative Assembly will be dissolved with effect from tomorrow, September 23, paving the way for the state's 16th election, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh announced.
He said the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, had given his consent after Ab Rauf sought an audience to request the dissolution of the 28-seat assembly.
He made the announcement at a special press conference at Seri Negeri in Ayer Keroh today.
"The most important thing is not my personal interest, but how we want to manage the state for the people of Melaka," he said.
Under the state constitution, an election must be held within 60 days of dissolution. The Election Commission will set the nomination and polling dates, which have not yet been announced.
The state will be run by a caretaker government until a new administration is formed. Ab Rauf said public services, welfare and security would continue as usual during that period, and that the possibility of flooding was among the factors to be considered in setting the dates.
The Melaka election will be the third state poll this year, after Johor and Negeri Sembilan.
Cooperation talks begin
The dissolution also opens the way for formal talks on electoral cooperation.
Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on August 30 that formal discussions with any party would begin after the assembly was dissolved, with Ab Rauf assigned to lead them. Zahid also distinguished those formal talks from informal discussions that might take place earlier.
On August 27, Ab Rauf said Melaka BN intended to defend all 21 seats it had won, making that position the basis for negotiations with prospective partners.
Pakatan Harapan has said it is prepared to go it alone if no understanding is reached, while Perikatan Nasional has said it will contest every seat if talks with BN fail.
In the 2021 state election, BN won 21 of the 28 seats, while Pakatan Harapan secured five and Perikatan Nasional two.
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