PH pledges to give five-year notice for dissolution of Parliament

SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Harapan (PH) has pledged to dissolve the Parliament with a five-year notice should the coalition win the 14th General Election (GE14). If it is unable to serve the five-year notice, it will inform the nation at least a year ahead of the dissolution of the Parliament.
Incumbent Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad said the recent actions by the Barisan Nasional (BN) caretaker government to dissolve Parliament in a "hurried and hush hush" manner had greatly inconvenienced the people.
"The rakyat have been made to wait for the announcement date on the elections for many months.
"For instance reporters and police unable to take proper leave due to being asked to standby for possible polls.
"(While) others who want to rent halls and conduct functions, when election dates are announced, their booking will be postponed," he told reporters at his service centre, here today.
Khalid, who is also Amanah communications director, said PH hopes to emulate the Indonesian government's practice of announcing the election dates as early as possible.
"Like in Indonesia, (they announce it) five years (in advance) so there is no suspense. The people can plan their family holidays earlier and does not create any form of inconvenience," he said.
He opined that PH could opt either announce the dissolution of Parliament five years ahead or at the very least, a minimal one-year notice.
"PH would stick to the presents laws but will make an advanced announcement so it would assist the Election Commission (EC) to determine a convenient General Election date.
"A suitable date for the people to be prepared," he added.
Khalid said the decision by the EC to call for polls on May 9, a weekday, remains a hassle for the people, despite the caretaker government having announced it as a public holiday.
"Now (the polling date) is on Wednesday. On Monday and Tuesday, students and teachers go to school.
"Then on Tuesday, teachers have to take the unnecessary trouble to arrange the desk and chairs (for polling centre setup) before rearranging them again for school on Thursday.
"This truly creates inconvenience for the teachers and students," he added.