Speculation on formation of new Melaka govt fizzles out

MELAKA: An internal conflict within the state DAP has "saved" the Perikatan Nasional-led state government.

It’s an open secret that Melaka DAP is divided into two factions and this has led to a possible coup, that gripped the state earlier, to fizzle out.

Four Melaka DAP lawmakers have now put the final nail in the coffin in the second attempt to oust Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali after they refused to work with their peers who had allegedly “betrayed” the previous Pakatan Harapan-led state government.

The four withdrew their support at the eleventh hour for a group of lawmakers, apparently from Umno, DAP, Amanah, PKR and Parti Bersatu Pribumi, who allegedly wanted to topple the state government.

Apart from not wanting to work with the lawmakers, the four also felt that Sulaiman is a humble Chief Minister and had helped them to resolve all issues that were raised at their respective constituencies.

The four were also unhappy when some, within their own circle, were interested in obtaining key positions if the new state government was formed, according to a source.

The four, a source revealed, had suggested for those who defected from Melaka Pakatan to be only offered as backbenchers and not given any state executive councillor positions during an emergency meeting with Pakatan leaders at Petaling Jaya on Thursday (Sept 30).

However, the power grab for positions continued even after the meeting that had disillusioned the four from supporting any attempts to topple the present Melaka government.

Melaka has seven DAP assemblymen.

Earlier, speculation emerged that four Umno lawmakers were ready to defect from Sulaiman’s administration to form a unity coalition, together with Oppositions in the state.

It was also reported that Pakatan leaders attempted to seek an audience with Melaka Yang-di Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Ali Rustam.

The Pakatan leaders were spotted at Mohd Ali’s residence at Bukit Katil here on Friday (Oct 1), allegedly with statutory declarations of 15 lawmakers.

They failed to meet Dr Mohd Ali.

Perikatan came into power in March 2020 following the defections by four assemblymen from the previous Pakatan state government.

The four were Paya Rumput assemblyman Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen and Telok Mas assemblyman Noor Effandi Ahmad - both from Bersatu - as well as Rembia rep Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis (formerly PKR, now Umno) and Pengkalan Batu assemblyman Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (formerly DAP, now Independent).

Melaka has 28 state constituencies and Perikatan currently has the support of 17 lawmakers.

Mohd Rafiq, who is also Melaka Perikatan chief, had denied he was involved in a plot to topple Sulaiman, adding that he would continue to support him.