Najib calls for polls, asks for state assemblies to be dissolved

PUTRAJAYA: The 13th Parliament will be dissolved tomorrow (April 7) paving way for the much-awaited 14th General Elections (GE14).
Making the announcement today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak called all state government leaders to seek an audience with their head of states to obtain their consent to dissolve the state legislative assemblies so that the polls for Parliamentary and state seats could be done simultaneously.
The 25-minute announcement was made at noon after a special Cabinet meeting at Bangunan Perdana Putra and was telecast live on national television and live-streamed on Najib's Facebook page.
Najib had earlier sought an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V for his consent to dissolve Parliament.
"Thus, in accordance with Article 55 of the Federal Constitution, His Highness has given his consent for the 13th Parliament to be dissolved effective April 7, 2018," he said.
Najib, who took office as Prime Minister from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on April 3, 2009, have introduced the 1Malaysia concept as the ruling party's branding and have implemented various transformation programmes.
"Truly this dissolution brings out the Barisan Nasional's commitment towards the Parliamentary democracy process by enabling GE14 for the country, which since 1959 have been conducted according to the law," he said.
The 64-year-old ruling party leader has come under pressure from various quarters, including the international community for several high-profile issues including the multi-billion dollar fund mismanagement of a state investment arm, questionable management of Felda and Mara investments, rising cost of living and accusations of corruption and cronyism.
His biggest challenge appeared to be from former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has joined the Opposition along with Najib's sacked deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
While announcing the dissolution of Parliament, Najib took the opportunity to remind the people of all that the government has done under his administration for the past nine years.
"Beginning from this moment, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and I as well as all the BN leaders, will go down to the ground to meet the people throughout the nation and give explanations and confidence to the all Malaysians on our manifesto and the direction of the country.
"We have drafted in detail so that all the voters will give us another chance and mandate to form a more stable and strong government with a bigger majority," Najib said.
He said the government has fulfilled the mandate and abided by the democratic process up till today.
"If victory is given to BN, we promise to do our best, to carry out a bigger, more inclusive and more comprehensive transformation of the country," Najib said.