This follows an audience granted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to chief minister Abang Johari Openg at Istana Negara earlier today.
In a statement, the chief minister’s office said the King and the Sarawak governor will decide when the state assembly will dissolve, based on the advice of the attorney-general, the Election Commission, the health ministry, police and armed forces.
“His majesty has advised that the state government functions as usual with the powers under the Emergency Ordinance, in view of the worrying Covid-19 situation,” it said.
Also present with Abang Johari were his deputies, Douglas Uggah Embas, James Jemut Masing and Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, as well as housing and local government minister Dr Sim Kui Hian and Tiong King Sing.
It was previously reported that the chief minister was seeking an audience with the Agong about the dissolution of the assembly during the state of emergency having already met state governor Abdul Taib Mahmud.
The tenure of the current state assembly would automatically end on June 6, five years from the date of its first meeting after elections, with the state constitution requiring new elections to be called within 60 days of the dissolution.
However, elections are banned under the state of emergency, which is in force until Aug 1.
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