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The Melaka state government led by Menteri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali has fallen, claimed Sungai Udang state assemblyperson (ADUN) Datuk Seri Idris Haron
Idris — who is aligned with UMNO — together with Pantai Kundor ADUN Datuk Nor Azman Hassan of UMNO, Telok Mas ADUN Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad of Bersatu, and independent Pengkalan Batu ADUN Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee said they have withdrawn support for Sulaiman’s leadership, reported Free Malaysia Today.
Among the four, three were state executive councillors (exco), who have resigned from their posts. Norhizam was a former DAP member.
“We have resigned. This signifies that the state government has a deficit in support,” said Idris, who is the former Mekala MB.
All four of them appeared in a press conference to make the announcement today, 4 October.
“We know there are 11 assemblymen in the opposition who do not support the government, and with the four of us, it shows that the state government has lost its majority,” said Azman.
From left to right: Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee, Datuk Seri Idris Haron, Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad, and Datuk Nor Azman Hassan.
Image via Syafeeq Ahmad/Berita Harian
The Melaka state assembly has 28 seats. Barisan Nasional (BN) has 14 seats, Bersatu has two seats, while one is held by an independent.
New Straits Times reported that Pakatan Harapan (PH) has 11 seats, with DAP holding seven, PKR two, and Amanah two.
In the 14th General Election (GE14), PH won the state election with 15 seats, while BN held 13 seats. Amanah’s Adly Zahari was appointed as the state MB after the 2018 election.
However, following the events of the political coup dubbed ‘Langkah Sheraton’ in March last year, two Bersatu ADUNs and one each from PKR and DAP switched their support, making UMNO’s Sulaiman the new MB after gaining the majority.
Idris was the state MB between 7 May 2013 and 10 May 2018.
Image via Bernama
Idris said he is still with UMNO and is ready to face any consequences over his actions, but stood by the decision to withdraw his support for Sulaiman in the interest of Melakans
He said some of the government decisions had put Melaka in a “gridlock”, adding that there seemed to be “two lions on one mountain” in the current state administration, reported Free Malaysia Today.
He did not elaborate on what he meant by that.
“For now, we want to state that the four of us, along with the PH leadership, do not support the state government’s leadership,” said Idris.
Sungai Udang state assemblyman Datuk Seri Idris Haron.
Image via Muhammad Hatim Ab Manan/New Straits Times
The latest development, reported by Malay Mail, revealed that PH representatives in the state will be meeting state governor Tun Mohd Ali Rustam to discuss the future of the state.
Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said given the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the priority of PH at this juncture is to ensure political stability in the state.
“In relation to that, 11 Pakatan Harapan state assemblymen, together with four independents, intend to hold a meeting with His Excellency the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Melaka to discuss the efforts that can be taken to ensure state political stability and continuity of government administration, can be continued,” he said in a statement today.