[UPDATED] Johor polls: Election Commission to meet on Feb 9

KUALA LUMPUR – The Election Commission (EC) will be meeting on February 9 over the 15th Johor polls after being informed on the dissolution of the state assembly on January 23.

In a statement, the EC said according to state laws, an election has to be held 60 days from the dissolution date.

It added that the meeting will be chaired by EC chief Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh and is expected to discuss nomination date, polling date and other matters.

A press conference is expected to follow after the meeting is concluded.

Two days ago, Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar assented to dissolving the state assembly.

As announced via a post on the ruler’s official Facebook page, the dissolution came after an audience with Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad at 5pm at Istana Bukit Serene last Saturday.

This will pave the way for snap polls in the state, as hoped by Umno following the death of Bersatu’s Kempas assemblyman Datuk Osman Sapian on December 21.

His death had left the Perikatan Nasional-led state administration with a razor-thin majority of only one seat, with 28 held against Pakatan Harapan’s 27.

Earlier, Hasni told reporters that he has obtained the agreement of Umno division chiefs to hold the Johor state elections.

Two other states also saw recent snap elections, with the ruling state government of both states successfully managing to defend their position. 

In Melaka, the state election on November 20 saw Barisan Nasional winning the state polls by clinching 21 of the 28 seats contested, with PH claiming five seats and PN garnering only two seats. 

Meanwhile, in Sarawak, the state election held on December 18 witnessed the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s return to power by winning 76 of the 82 seats among the constituencies. 

Opposition party Parti Sarawak Bersatu won four seats, while DAP won two seats. – The Vibes, January 24, 2022