MELAKA: A Melaka Umno division chief says he personally called Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali to clear the air over speculation that there is an attempt to oust the latter as Melaka Chief Minister.
Hang Tuah Jaya Umno chief Datuk Mohd Ridhwan Mohd Ali said that the speculation was aimed at breaking the solid working relationship between Umno and other Barisan Nasional leaders in the state.
Mohd Ridhwan said any talk about ousting Sulaiman was baseless based on phone calls he made to both Sulaiman and Melaka Barisan chief Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
"It's an external force that is trying to cause disunity in the ruling state government," he said after distributing aid to 170 Chinese and Indian residents at Seri Siantan Flats in Bukit Baru here on Saturday (July 9).
Mohd Ridhwan described the article in a news portal on Friday (July 8) as provocative as it did not quote reliable sources.
"I can safely say there is no such motion to table a no-confidence vote against the Chief Minister (at the state assembly meeting)," he said.
Speculation has emerged that Ab Rauf has the blessing from a national party leader to table a motion of no-confidence against Sulaiman in the state assembly at the end of this month.
However, Ab Rauf came out openly to rubbish the speculation on the same day (July 8).
Sulaiman survived two previous attempts to oust him but his administration collapsed on Oct 4, 2021, after four assemblymen withdrew their support for the Barisan Nasional/Perikatan Nasional-led state government.
This led to a state election being held in December 2021 where Barisan secured a thumping victory and Sulaiman was sworn-in as Chief Minister once again.
