THE Penang assembly, which has 40 seats, was dissolved today to pave way for state elections.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced the dissolution before the end of the five-year term, which ends on August 2, in a press conference yesterday after receiving the consent of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.

Speaker Law Choo Kiang handed the official notification to Penang Election Commission director Dr Siti Nazariah Abdul Zalim yesterday.

The Penang assembly held its first meeting on August 1, 2018, after the 2018 general election.

In the last general election, Pakatan Harapan (PH) won 37 of 40 state seats, including two secured by Bersatu representatives when they were with the coalition, while Barisan Nasional (BN) obtained two, and PAS, one.

In February 2020, Bersatu announced it was quitting PH to join Perikatan Nasional, and its two representatives – Khaliq Mehtab Mohd Ishaq (Bertam) and Zolkifli Md Lazim (Teluk Bahang) withdrew their support for the PH-led state government.

The crisis in PKR also saw two of its assemblymen sacked – Dr Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya) and Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Acheh).

The latest composition of the Penang assembly sees PH holding 33 seats, followed by BN (2), Bersatu (4), and PAS (1).

Penang is one of six states that will hold state polls, along with Kedah, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan, Selangor and Kelantan. – Bernama, June 28, 2023.