Johor ruler’s power to dissolve assembly not absolute, says MP

Following Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's threat to dissolve the state assembly if there is another power struggle in the state, Pasir Gudang MP highlighted the legal limits to the sultan’s power to follow through on this threat.

He said while Article 23(2) gives the sultan power to “prorogue or dissolve” the assembly, the provision should be read together with Article 7(1) of the constitution, which states that the rulers shall act “in accordance with the advice of the state executive council” in performing his constitutional functions.