Unity government was 'hell', says Melaka CM

MELAKA: Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali described his experience administering the state during the year-long tenure of the then Perikatan Nasional-led government as a bitter one and going "through hell."

He said the unity government concept was not workable as lawmakers of the various political parties who had formed the coalition in March 2020 to administer the state had their own personal agendas

Sulaiman said that they had prioritised their interests instead focusing on the development of the state.

"I was so disillusioned during the past administration of the state and until I was fed up with those pursuing their own agendas without putting the interest of the people first," he said.

Sulaiman said this in his brief speech after handing over Deepavali gifts to state government staff and media at his office in Seri Negeri here on Tuesday (Oct 18).

Perikatan Nasional came into power in March, 2020 following the defections by four former assemblymen from the previous Pakatan Harapan-led state government.

Two of the four were the former Paya Rumput assemblyman Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen, former Telok Mas assemblyman Noor Effandi Ahmad, both from Parit Pribumi Bersatu

The other two were former Rembia rep Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis (formerly PKR) and the former Pengkalan Batu assemblyman Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (formerly DAP).

The Perikatan Nasional Government witnessed another collapse on Oct 4, 2021 after four assemblymen withdrew their support for the Perikatan Nasional-led state government.

The four who exited then were previous Sungai Udang assemblyman Datuk Seri Idris Haron (former Umno) Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (former Umno-Panati Kundor), Noor Effandi and former Independent lawmaker Norhizam Hassan after claiming they have lost confidence in Sulaiman as the Chief Minister then.

This led to a state election being held in Nov, 2021 when Barisan Nasional won 21 of 28 state seats it contested and Sulaiman was sworn-in as the Chief Minister once again.

Suliman said besides coping with a tumultuous one year since the Perikatan Nasional was formed in 2020, he had to also manage multiple crises then.

"I would never want to undergo the same experience and I really hope that the locals would make a wise decision during the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15).

"The mechanism of unity government will not be effective not in Melaka but other states too," he said.

He said Melaka Barisan Nasional hoped to secure a thumping victory in the GE15.

Earlier, he called upon the Hindu civil servants serving the state government to engage in noble works and to render help to others.

Sulaiman said he often read about the teaching of various religions where all the faiths emphasised in doing good.

"I take my time reading about the good values professed in every religion and I hope we can put this in practice," he added.