Malaysia Parliament will be dissolved on Thursday to make way for the 11th general election, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced on Wednesday. 

"His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Paramount Ruler) has consented that the 10th parliament be dissolved effective on March 4, 2004 to make way for the 11th general election in accordance with Article 55 of the Federal Constitution," Abdullah said in a statement.

He said that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong signed the declaration on the dissolution on Wednesday.

Except for Sarawak, all state governments will be advised to similarly dissolve their state legislatures effective the same date, he said.

According to the Prime Minister, the Election Commission will fix the dates for nomination and polling. 

The dissolution comes about eight months earlier than the expiry of the term of the 10th parliament, due in November.

The 9th parliament was dissolved on Nov. 11, 1999 while polling in the 10th general election was conducted on Nov. 29.

The Sabah state election will be conducted simultaneously with the 11th general election while only the parliamentary election will be held in Sarawak.

Following the recent redefinition of electoral boundaries, 219 parliamentary and 567 state seats are up for grabs this general election compared with 194 parliamentary and 504 state seats in the 1999 general election.

The government has set aside 74 million ringgit (US$19.47 million) for the police force in the upcoming general election, Inspector General of Police Mohd Bakri Omar on Monday.

He said the police would deploy 56,036 personnel including 8,637 men from the General Operations Force and volunteer corps.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2004)