Adly not moving an inch

MELAKA: The tussle for power in Melaka is far from over as Adly Zahari has refused to budge despite pressure from the top and opposite the divide.

A day after being told to vacate his position by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob, the embattled Chief Minister said he would not resign and would continue to fight off his political foes.

“I am staying put based on the ambit of the state constitution. I am the rightful leader of a state government elected by the people.

“Pakatan Harapan cannot be removed through undemocratic means, ” he told a press conference yesterday.

On Monday, Adly met Mohd Khalil to seek a dissolution of the state assembly to pave the way for snap polls.

His request was rejected and he was told to make way for a new Chief Minister to be appointed.

Adly said he was told to vacate his office at 4pm on Monday.

“The setting up of a new state government cannot be determined by just four assemblymen who have defected, ” he said.

The four are Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas), Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis (Rembia), Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen (Paya Rumput) and Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu).

On Monday, Mohd Khalil said he received a notice from some assemblymen that Adly no longer commands the majority of the state assembly.

Melaka state secretary Datuk Seri Hasim Hasan said based on Article 7(2)(a), a new Chief Minister who had the confidence of the majority would be appointed.

Adly said Pakatan would embark on a roadshow to explain the situation to the people.

He said they would focus on the four state constituencies where the defection happened.

“The grassroots should be told that these four assemblymen had betrayed them by joining hands with political foes, ” he said.