Incoming Melaka CM not leader of 'backdoor' state govt, says Merlimau rep

MELAKA: A Melaka assemblyman has hit out at a fellow lawmaker for branding the incoming Melaka chief minister as the leader of a "backdoor" state government.

Merlimau assemblyman Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh asked Rembia assemblyman Datuk Muhamad Jailani Khamis, who are both from Umno, not to forget the 2020 Melaka political impasse where the latter was among the lawmakers who caused the Pakatan Harapan-led state government to collapse.

"It's probably time to remind him (Muhamad Jailani) that he was among the four assemblymen who hopped as members of the ruling state government in March 2020 that caused the then-chief minister (Adly Zahari) to be ousted.

"I hope he remembers the episode of overthrowing the Pakatan state government then," he said when interviewed here Thursday (March 30).

Dr Muhamad Akmal, who is also state Health and Anti-Drug Committee chairman, said Muhamad Jailani should understand that Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali had resigned as chief minister.

"None of the present lawmakers toppled Sulaiman's government and the current development is seen as a smooth leadership transition within the same party (Umno)," he said.

Earlier, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Melaka Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh had been nominated as the next chief minister.

An online news portal had quoted Muhamad Jailani as saying that Malaysians were well aware of the phrase "backdoor government".

"What we're about to see over the next few days is a 'backdoor' chief minister.

"This is a 'new species' from Umno and Barisan Nasional," Muhamad Jailani had said in the articlepublished on Wednesday (March 29).