Kota kinabalu: The 16th Sabah State Legislative Assembly is scheduled for automatic dissolution on November 11, if not dissolved earlier, according to Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M Yahya. The five-year term of the assembly is calculated from the first sitting date on November 12, 2020, thus setting the end date of the current term as November 11 this year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, there have been misunderstandings among the public about the dissolution date, with some assuming the term began on the polling day of September 26, 2020, or on September 22 for early voting. Kadzim clarified that the term is counted from the first sitting of the new legislative term and not from the polling day, election results announcement, or the swearing-in of assemblymen.

Kadzim stated that upon automatic dissolution on November 11, Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman and the Election Commission would be formally notified. An election must then be held within 60 days from the date of dissolution. Regarding the upcoming Sabah State Assembly sitting scheduled for two days, starting tomorrow, Kadzim mentioned that four bills will be tabled, covering areas such as supplementary supply, state sales tax, forestry, and climate change and carbon governance.

The Speaker noted that the assembly typically has at least three sittings a year, and should the assembly dissolve after this session, it would be the final sitting of the term. Otherwise, it will be the third sitting for the year, with proceedings expected to continue as usual.

Kadzim highlighted the benefits of live broadcasting of the assembly sittings on social media, such as YouTube, which permits the public to follow debates on state policies without attending in person. He emphasized that the live telecast encourages proper conduct among assemblymen, knowing they are being observed by the public.

He further stressed the importance of adhering to security restrictions around the Sabah State Assembly building, which is gazetted as a security zone, to maintain an appropriate environment for official matters. On the topic of artificial intelligence, Kadzim mentioned that they have yet to fully utilize AI technology due to limitations, particularly in language translation, but expressed openness to its potential future use in legislative functions.