Former Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron said Seri Bendahara, the Malacca Chief Minister's official residence which had been described as luxurious, was not built during his time.

Idris' comment came amid a flurry of visitors flocking to see the building which the new Pakatan Harapan state government had opened for public viewing.

Harapan had claimed the building in Ayer Keroh was an example of the excesses by the previous BN state government.

However, Idris said the new government should not act like the opposition in trying to single out the alleged wrongdoings of the previous government.

"Issues such as opening Seri Bendahara to the public, showing the luxury of the previous government, I think that should be done in a professional manner.

"Seri Bendahara was not built during my time. Seri Bendahara was built in 2004 and completed in 2006. That means when I came into office, Seri Bendahara was already seven to eight years old.

"From what I can remember, I did not make any modifications to the building except for some repairs that had to be carried out by the Public Works Department. I also had no control over the specifications of the repairs," he said in a video recording sent by his press secretary.

Idris said anyone who was elected and appointed as chief minister qualifies to reside in Seri Bendahara.

"Whoever who is chosen as the chief minister can stay at the residence safely and comfortably," he said.

Idris became chief minister in 2013. He was preceded by Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.

On a separate matter, Idris said Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's challenge against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the party presidency showed that the party's leadership kept to its promise that all positions were open for contest.

Idris, who is an Umno supreme council member, reiterated the party's decision that Ahmad Zahid and Hishammuddin Hussein will, in the interim, carry out the duties of the Umno president and Umno deputy president respectively.

However, he noted that Hishammuddin had decided not to contest in the upcoming Umno election and said a meeting will be called to decide who Malacca Umno will endorse.