SHAH ALAM - Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun has announced the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), effective Friday.
The dissolution was made following the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
"Alhamdulillah, tonight at 8.30pm, I had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and Tuanku has consented to dissolve the DUN beginning tomorrow (Friday).
"This dissolution is in accordance with and in compliance with the Negeri Sembilan State Constitution and after this election, we will submit a notice to the Election Commission (EC) to determine the date for candidate nomination and polling day," he said.
He added that the dissolution date had received the agreement of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
At the same time, Aminuddin denied that the dissolution decision was made abruptly, but believes it can resolve the political impasse currently gripping the state.
"We saw the crisis unfold, first they (Umno assemblymen) said they were withdrawing, not supporting me, pulling out from the government and then we saw that it was not suitable within a government, that a fresh mandate from the people was needed.
"So I am leaving it to the people to determine the future of Negeri Sembilan," he said.
On the matter of seat allocation, he said the division of seats among Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties had been finalised, with the coalition deciding to contest all 36 DUN seats.
However, he declined to share further details on the number of seats allocated to each party.
"The seat allocation has been settled within the PH coalition, we will contest all 36 DUN seats across Negeri Sembilan.
"We will decide next week, it is already done but I think it is better to announce it next week. Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) agrees, DAP agrees, and we - Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) - are in support," he said.
The announcement was made at his official residence on Thursday night, following an urgent media call issued by his Press Secretary, Ahmad Shahir Mohd Shah, via a WhatsApp group at 10.25pm.
The next process will be subject to the Election Commission (EC), which is responsible for setting the dates for candidate nomination, early voting and polling day.
The dissolution paves the way for the 16th state election (PRN16), which must be held within the next 60 days.
The move follows weeks of political tension that erupted last month when all 14 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen withdrew their support for Aminuddin over his handling of a controversy involving four Undang who attempted to remove Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
Umno's central leadership subsequently directed its assemblymen to support the state government, but leaders from both Pakatan Harapan and Umno publicly called for the assembly's dissolution as a way forward.