State govt falls after DAP and PKR assemblymen defect to Perikatan Nasional

MELAKA: The Melaka government has fallen after two Pakatan Harapan assemblymen switched sides to Perikatan Nasional.

Melaka DAP’s Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee and PKR’s Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis announced that they now support Perikatan Nasional.

Norhizam, who is Pengkalan Batu assemblyman, made a surprise appearance at a packed press conference held by Melaka Umno liaison committee head Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh at a hotel in Ayer Keroh here yesterday.

Rembia assemblyman Jailani was also at the press conference.

Norhizam, who is also popularly as “YB Hulk”, said he made an eleventh-hour decision to leave Pakatan as he was disillusioned with Melaka DAP for not appreciating his hard work and defending him when he was criticised over his claim that wild boars were crossing over the Straits of Malacca from Indonesia.

Former Melaka deputy speaker Datuk Dr Wong Fort Pin claimed everyone in Pakatan Harapan expected Paya Rumput assemblyman Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen and Telok Mas assemblyman Noor Effandi Ahmad, both from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, as well as Jailani to defect.

“We knew from beginning that the trio will leave us but not Norhizam, ” he said.

With the two switching camps, Perikatan Nasional now has the support of 17 assemblymen in the 28-seat state assembly.

“We are the state government now, ” Ab Rauf said, adding that the new Chief Minister would be announced soon.

Three aspirants for the post are Lendu assemblymen Datuk Sulaiman Md Ali, Mohd Rafiq and former chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.

Meanwhile, Melaka Chief Minister Adly Zahari has proposed to Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob that the state assembly be dissolved for fresh polls.

In a statement, the Bukit Katil assemblyman said a state election was needed due to the political instability in Melaka, which impacted progress and thus the need to go back to the people for a new mandate.

“I met with Yang di-Pertua Negri at 4.30pm today (yesterday) and made the proposal as provided for under Article 7(4) of the State Constitution, ” he said in the statement.

He also reminded the people of Melaka to continue to remain calm and be law-abiding to ensure the state remains peaceful.

However, Khalil rejected Adly’s proposal to dissolve the state assembly and hold fresh polls.

Melaka state secretary Datuk Seri Hasim Hasan in a statement said the Yang di-Pertua Negri said he had received a notice from some assemblymen stating that Adly no longer commands confidence of the majority of the state assembly.

“Based on Article 7(4) of the Melaka state constitution, the chief minister must vacate his post from the state executive council, ” Hasim said in the statement.

He also said that based on Article 7(2)(a), a new chief minister who had the confidence of the majority of the state assembly would be appointed.