KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said that the party might only have six weeks to prepare for the upcoming state elections.

Mohamad, also known as Tok Mat, told Umno delegates that the dissolution of the six state assemblies would likely happen by the end of this month, with polls likely held at the end of July or early August.

"Only six weeks maximum, we expect elections at the end of July or early August. So we don’t have time to think about work 24 hours a day, we don’t have time for the party.

"I hope that this is our mission for us to improve and defend that dignity even if it is still there.

Let’s continue to be determined about achieving a victory that we can be proud of,” he said in his winding-up speech at the party’s annual general assembly.

Political observers anticipate that the state assemblies of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu will be dissolved by the end of June to pave the way for state elections.

Previously, former deputy chairman of the Election Commission (EC) Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said that it would be easier to hold simultaneous polls for the six states even though their mandates expire at different times, with Selangor the earliest and Penang last.

He said the EC is constitutionally obliged to hold an election within 60 days of it being called, but felt it would be better to avoid the differing dates as this ran the risk of them being used as political capital.