EC meeting on Oct 16 to set key dates for Sabah polls

PUTRAJAYA - The Election Commission (EC) will hold a special meeting on Oct 16 to discuss key dates and other matters related to the 17th Sabah State Election.

In a statement today, EC secretary Datuk Khairul Shahril Idrus said it received official notification of the dissolution of the 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly from Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M Yahya on Oct 7.

"As provided under Article 21(4) of the Sabah State Constitution, a state election must be held within 60 days from the date of the dissolution," he said.

On Monday, Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor announced the dissolution at a press conference after a gathering with Sabah government state assemblymen at Menara Kinabalu.

Hajiji made the announcement after obtaining the consent of Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu.

The Sabah State Assembly comprises 79 seats - 73 elected and six appointed members.

The 16th Sabah State Election in 2020 saw Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), which was then part of the Perikatan Nasional coalition together with Barisan Nasional (BN) and PBS, as well as supported by independent assemblymen, forming the state government after winning 41 of the 73 contested seats.

Parti Warisan won 23 seats, while Pakatan Harapan (PH) secured nine. - BERNAMA