Norhizam urged to return state assets

Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee - filepic

MELAKA: The caretaker Melaka government has urged former exco member Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee to surrender the state government’s assets that were allocated to him.

Caretaker chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said Norhizam should return his official cars and other assets provided to him as former state agriculture, agro-based, entrepreneur development and cooperative committee chairman and as Pengkalan Batu assemblyman.

“He has resigned and is no longer part of the caretaker state government. It’s fair for him to return whatever assets were allocated to him previously,” Sulaiman said yesterday.

Norhizam, who has refused to hand over the assets, accused the caretaker government of practising double standards as the previous Umno exco members were not forced to surrender their assets after the state government collapsed on Monday.

On Norhizam’s accusation, Sulaiman said the Umno exco members need not surrender their assets as they are still part of the caretaker state government.

Sulaiman said he would return all assets if he is no longer in the caretaker government.

“The assets should be returned to the State Secretary once we are no longer in office.”

Sulaiman has been left without majority support to continue helming the state government after four assemblymen declared that they had lost confidence in him as chief minister.

Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Ali Rustam moved to dissolve the state assembly on Tuesday after the announcement by the four assemblymen, leaving the then ruling state government with only 13 seats in the 28-seat assembly.

Meanwhile, Kota Laksamana assemblyman Low Chee Leong took a swipe at Norhizam for claiming that 15 Opposition assemblymen were part of those who endorsed a letter by Melaka Pakatan Harapan to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“I am not part of the letter and I don’t want my name to be misused,” he said yesterday.

Melaka Pakatan chief Adly Zahari said the letter was delivered to Istana Negara at 5.50pm on Friday by Norhizam and Telok Mas assemblyman Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad.He said the letter sought the courtesy and wisdom of the King to advise the Yang di-Pertua Negeri to withdraw the decision to dissolve the state legislative assembly on Oct 4.