Melaka PN chairman quits after state polls

Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen today announced his resignation as Melaka Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman and head of the Melaka Bersatu leadership body with immediate effect following the coalition’s loss in the recent state election.

In a statement, he said a formal letter of resignation would be submitted to Bersatu president and PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.

“I would like to apologise for all of the mistakes throughout my tenure as Melaka PN chairman and head of the Melaka Bersatu leadership body,” he added.

He said his resignation would allow a new leadership for the state chapters of Bersatu and PN with enough time to prepare for the 15th general election.

“My resignation will also allow me to focus on strengthening our position and the support of the people for PN in Tangga Batu and the Tangga Batu division of Bersatu, and to give my full attention to my duties as Bersatu vice-president ahead of GE15,” he said.

Rafiq was PN’s candidate for the Telok Mas seat. He lost a four-way fight to Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman who won 6,052 votes against Rafiq’s 3,976. Pakatan Harapan’s Ashraf Mukhlis Minghat won 3,891 votes while independent candidate Muhammad Ariff Adly Mohammad won 153.

He was also rumoured to be a prospective candidate for chief minister although PN ultimately nominated fellow Bersatu member Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.

The Melaka election on Nov 20 saw BN scoring a comfortable victory, winning 21 of the 28 seats in the state legislative assembly.

PH won five seats and PN, two.