Pejuang not likely to contest in Melaka polls, prefers to focus on GE15, says deputy president

PETALING JAYA: Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) is not likely to contest in the Melaka state election following the dissolution of the state legislative assembly, says Datuk Marzuki Yahya.

The Pejuang deputy president said the party generally did not agree with the dissolution, which was triggered when four assemblymen withdrew support for Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

Marzuki said the party had yet to decide on whether or not to participate in the state polls and would prefer to focus on and prepare for the 15th General Election.

“Although the party hasn’t decided, personally I think having state elections will not be good for the people of Melaka.

“This is not the time to continue politicking. Not to take sides with anyone but this is in line with the party’s principles,” he said in an interview with Malay daily Utusan Malaysia published on Thursday (Oct 14).

Marzuki noted that if the state elections went on, it could be “disastrous”.

Melaka state legislative assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh had announced that the assembly was dissolved on Oct 4.

This was after four assemblymen – Datuk Seri Idris Haron (Sungai Udang), Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Datuk Norhizam Hassan Bakee (Pengkalan Batu) and Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas) – declared that they had lost confidence in Sulaiman’s leadership, causing the state government led by Barisan Nasional to collapse.

The Election Commission (EC) was officially informed of the dissolution on Oct 4.

Based on Article 19 (4) of the Melaka State Constitution, a state election must be held within 60 days, provided that an Emergency is declared like in Sarawak previously.

Marzuki added that the actions of the four were “selfish” in that they did not think through the consequences of their decision in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also commented on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed earlier between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the Pakatan Harapan coalition, saying that politicians in the lower ranks do not seem to be agreeing with the political ceasefire as mentioned in the MOU.