Melaka assembly dissolved, says Speaker Ab Rauf

MELAKA: The state assembly has been dissolved, says Speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.

In a special press conference on Tuesday (Oct 5), Ab Rauf said that Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam had agreed to dissolve the Melaka Legislative Assembly.

This means that the state will have to hold a snap election within 60 days.

Ab Rauf said that the current Melaka state government would act as a caretaker government until the election is called.

He said a letter was sent to Mohd Ali yesterday to notify him about the four Melaka assemblymen who declared that they had lost confidence in Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, and to seek his consent for the dissolution of the state assembly.

"The Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam has consented to the dissolution of the 14th Melaka Legislative Assembly on Monday, Oct 4, 2021,” Ab Rauf said.

He added that the proclamation of the dissolution of the assembly was gazetted today.

He also said the Election Commission could propose the best standard operating procedures (SOP) to the National Security Council (NSC) and the Health Ministry to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The four Melaka assemblymen, who declared that they had lost confidence in Sulaiman’s leadership, were former Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron (BN-Sungai Udang), Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (BN-Pantai Kundor), Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Independent-Pengkalan Batu) and Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad (Bersatu-Telok Mas).

Before the fall of the Barisan Nasional state government, Barisan held 17 seats in the 28-seat state assembly, namely 14 from Umno, two from Bersatu and one Independent, while the Opposition had 11 comprising DAP (seven), PKR (two) and Amanah (two).