Parliament is dissolved; GE13 is on

The guessing game is over as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today announced the dissolution of Parliament.

This paves the way for the much-awaited 13th general election (GE13), which observers expect to be held this month, the latest by late May.

"I want to announce that earlier this morning I have met with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and asked for his consent to dissolve the 12th Parliament today on Wednesday, April 3, 2013," said Najib in an announcement in his office in Putrajaya.

The Barisan Nasional chairman said that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has given the consent to effectively dissolve Parliament. The head of states have also been advised to dissolve their respective state assemblies so that GE13 can be held simultaneously.

The GE13, which is expected to be one of the most highly contested election in the country, will see the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional defending against the opposition coalition comprising PAS, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and DAP.

Up to 40 per cent of Barisan Nasional contestants for the GE13 are expected to be new candidates.

Incumbents such as former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz (Kuala Kangsar), former Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid (Padang Besar), former Home Minister Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (Kangar) and former Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting (Kulai) are expected to be axed from the candidates list.

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Political Analyst Ibrahim Suffian said that he expects nomination day to be on a weekend likely next week on April 13 and polling day to be in another two weeks on April 27 or late May at the latest.

“The focus now will be on the re-shuffling of candidates, who will be dropped, whether there will be any key changes in state leaderships, such as Menteri Besars who have been there for a long time. I think we are all eager to see who they are, “ said Ibrahim, head of the Merdeka Centre polling firm.

He said that it will also be interesting to observe how the different political parties gear up with their campaigns and issues they will bring up.

“Pakatan seems very aggressive in the southern state of Johor, with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad vigorously campaigning there as well. BN seems very strong in trying to take back Selangor, Penang and Kedah, putting strong pressure in the north while the opposition is attacking in the south.

“There will be high level of contestation, with about one new in every four voting for the first time, in the mix. I also expect higher maturity from voters as both parties discuss more about manifestos and so on. Social media and the internet will also make this election even more unpredictable, with more nuances in the way our electorate vote.

Over the past two days, there was widespread speculation that Najib will call GE13 today even as rumours have been circulating that snap polls will be called since 2011.

He also marks the fourth anniversary of his prime ministership, which he assumed since April 3, 2009, today.

Najib held the the final Cabinet meeting earlier, as all ministers wore a dark lounge suit and a red tie for a group photography session.

Previously, the Election Commission (EC) has already said that it was ready to manage GE13 as soon as dissolution is announced.

The general election must be held within 60 days of Parliament being dissolved, in accordance with Article 55(4) of the Federal Constitution.

Once Dewan Rakyat is dissolved, the tenure of all MPs automatically ends, and until the next Parliament is convened, the country is run by a caretaker government.

The 2008 election was held on March 8. Parliament was dissolved on Feb 13, nominations on Feb 24. All state assemblies, aside from Sarawak, were dissolved and elections took place at the same time.