Sunday 30 October 2011

State before federal?

Over the past few months, we have been hearing one rumour after another that the General Elections were imminent or that we would have a snap election and it could take place on such and such a date. Come the date and we are all left hanging in the air. We are now quite used to it, actually. We are immune to these rumours now.

Then of course, there was speculation that if the Najib regime were to call for the next General Elections, the Pakatan-held states - Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Kelantan - may not want to dissolve their respective state assemblies and prefer to sit out their full term of five years before calling one. Again, they all turned out to be just rumours.

But here's a thought. If it is left to the respective states to dissolve their state assemblies, is it possible for them to go for a snap state elections before Parliament is dissolved? Good food for thought. I think it should be possible because there were real chances in 2009 that the Perak state assembly could have been dissolved and new state elections held when the Pakatan-held state government was sabotaged by frogs leaping into the netherworld.

If it could have happened then, I'm sure there is no obstacle to say, Penang, dissolving its state assembly today and calling for a new mandate from the people. Mmm, it sure would be interesting to see how the Najib regime or the Election Commission would react.




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