GE13: Parliament dissolution likely only after mid-April

(The Star) – The dissolution of Parliament to pave the way for the general election looks likely to take place only after the second week of April as Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to perform the umrah or minor haj next week.

Sources said the Prime Minister is expected to depart for Saudi Arabia on April 3 after chairing the next Cabinet meeting and taking part in a cycling event in Putra-jaya.

He is expected to return two days later.

For Muslims, the umrah is sometimes performed to seek guidance before making major decisions and for Najib, it has been an annual ritual.

Speculation has been growing that the Prime Minister, who would mark his fourth year in office next Wednesday, may stretch close to the full five-year term of the current Parliament, which expires on April 30, before calling for polls.

“We are ready but Barisan component parties and machinery can always use any extra time available to ensure that we are as prepared as possible for the general election,” said Barisan Nasional information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan.

The Negri Sembilan state legislative assembly expired on Thurs-day and all but three states would follow if the Prime Minister decides to allow Parliament to run its full term.

They are Penang whose term expires on May 2, as well as Kedah and Terengganu, with both expiring on May 6.

Over the past few days, the Prime Minister has been chairing a series of meetings with Barisan component party leaders and the coalition’s state leaders to finalise the candidate list.

In addition to performing the umrah, it is understood that Najib could also make a quick trip to Brunei on April 24 to attend the Asean Summit.

No Malaysian Prime Minister has ever given the meeting a miss, as Asean is the cornerstone of the country’s foreign policy.