KOTA ISKANDAR: Johor Speaker Suhaizan Kayat (pic) has officially informed the Election Commission (EC) about the dissolution of the state legislative assembly during a simple ceremony at his office here.

       He presented a one-page letter to Johor EC director Nor Nekman Jaimon at his office here at 4pm on Sunday (Jan 23).

       He said that he received the dissolution document, which was signed by Johor’s Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, from state secretary Datuk Azmi Rohani at 10am Sunday.

       "EC will then set a date for nomination and polling in Johor within 60 days," he said, adding that he would remain as speaker until a new government is elected and a new speaker takes oath in the state assembly.

       Suhaizan said that the state assembly was considered dissolved the moment Sultan Ibrahim signed the document on Saturday evening.

       Following the dissolution, this means that the state will have to hold a snap election within 60 days.

       There are a total of 56 state seats in Johor.

       The previous state government had a simple majority with 28 seats against Pakatan Harapan’s 27, while one seat was left vacant after the passing of former mentri besar Datuk Osman Sapian, who was Kempas assemblyman, on Dec 21.