THE Negri Sembilan legislative assembly, which has 36 seats, is officially dissolved today, paving the way for the state polls to be held.

The dissolution today saw Negri Sembilan as the only state to take full advantage of the five-year mandate period for its 14th term.

The first sitting of the 14th Negri Sembilan assembly was held on July 1, 2018, after the 14th general election (GE14) on May 9, 2018.

Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun announced the date of dissolution of the state assembly last Wednesday after getting the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir.

In GE14, Pakatan Harapan (PH), led by Aminuddin, dominated 20 seats in the state assembly, comprising 11 seats by DAP,  PKR (6) and Amanah (3).

Barisan Nasional (BN) won 16 seats with 15 from Umno and one from MIC.

During that term, a by-election for the Rantau seat was held following the Federal Court’s decision to dismiss a petition filed by its incumbent Mohamad Hasan.

Mohamad sought to set aside the decision of the Seremban Election Court, made on November 16, 2018, in declaring his victory for the seat in GE14 null and void.

In the by-election held on April 13, 2019, Mohamad, who is Umno deputy president, defended the seat with a majority of 4,510 votes, defeating his three challengers, namely PH candidate Dr S. Streram and two Independent candidates, housewife R. Malarvizhi and former lecturer Mohd Nor Yassin.

Apart from Negri Sembilan, the other five states that will hold their elections are Kelantan, Selangor, Penang, Kedah and Terengganu.

Kelantan dissolved its assembly on June 22, followed by Selangor on June 23, and Penang, Kedah and Terengganu on June 28. – Bernama, July 1, 2023.