Melaka govt on verge of collapse as 4 reps withdraw support

Four assemblymen in Melaka today withdrew their support for Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali, leaving the future of the state government uncertain.

The four comprise Sungai Udang assemblyman Idris Haron, Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundur), Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) and Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas).

Idris, a former chief minister, said he and the others had lost confidence in Sulaiman as well as the entire state government.

“We have submitted letters to this effect to the Chief Minister’s Office,” he said at a press conference today.

“We have also resigned (as excos), meaning that the government can no longer stand.”

Idris had previously denied talk of switching camps or withdrawing his support.

When asked today why they had revoked their support, he said the state government had “flip-flopped” on its decisions.

He also said that he and Azman were ready to face disciplinary action from Umno for withdrawing their support.

He said cooperation by the four assemblymen to form a new state government with Pakatan Harapan (PH) would depend on the readiness of the coalition itself.

Meanwhile, Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said the 11 assemblymen from the coalition along with the four independent representatives were seeking a meeting with state governor Mohd Ali Rustam to discuss efforts to restore political stability.

This is the second time in one term that the Melaka government has collapsed.

The previous administration led by Adly Zahari collapsed in 2020 after the formation of the Perikatan Nasional government at the federal level.