Facing ouster, Malacca Umno says will leave govt's fate in governor's hands
Malacca Umno will let Governor Mohd Ali Rustam make a decision after the BN-led state government technically collapsed due to four lawmakers withdrawing their support for Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali.
"It was very unfortunate that we received political pressure where we lost the support of four government lawmakers as we are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
"To ensure the sustainability, the state Umno liaison...
Malacca Umno will let Governor Mohd Ali Rustam make a decision after the BN-led state government technically collapsed due to four lawmakers withdrawing their support for Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali.
"It was very unfortunate that we received political pressure where we lost the support of four government lawmakers as we are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
"To ensure the sustainability, the state Umno liaison will leave it to the wisdom of the governor (above) to deal with the political crisis under Section 19(2) of the State Constitution, to prorogue or dissolve the state legislative assembly," said speaker and Malacca Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh today.
He added that the other state assemblypersons agreed with the decision.
Rauf, who is also Umno supreme council member, said Idris and Nor Azman have been expelled from the party.
"When they have said it openly in the press conference that they no longer stand with the party in supporting the state government, (their membership) will be dropped automatically," he said.
Will defend if fresh election called
Earlier today, Umno's Sungai Udang assemblyperson Idris Haron, together with Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundur), Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) and Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas), announced that they have withdrawn their support for Sulaiman as the chief minister.
Sulaiman, who attended the press conference with Rauf, pledged that BN will defend the state administration if a fresh election is called.
He described Idris, a former Malacca chief minister, and Nor Azman as traitors to the party and the people.
Sulaiman also dismissed the accusation that the state government made an inappropriate decision that had placed the state in a flip-flop situation. He denied any outside intervention in state affairs.
"The decisions we made in the state executive council meeting were collective. So, where is such external interference coming from?" he asked.
The Malacca state assembly has 28 seats. BN has 14 seats, Bersatu two seats, while one is held by an independent.
During the 14th general election in May 2018, Harapan scored a narrow victory of 15 seats to 13 for Idris' BN coalition and he was replaced as chief minister by Amanah's Adly Zahari.
However, in March 2020, two Bersatu reps and one each from PKR and DAP switched allegiance, which led to Sulaiman commanding majority support and being sworn in as chief minister instead.
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