KUALA LUMPUR: An announcement on the dissolution of the Melaka state legislative assembly will come “not too long” from now, says Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh.
The Melaka Chief Minister said the state government could not afford to wait much longer as the deadline for the dissolution was fast approaching.
“When the time comes, I will announce it. It will not take too long, but it will not be so soon either.
“Certainly, the dissolution cannot be delayed for long because the deadline is fast approaching,” he said when met on the sidelines of the 2026 Umno General Assembly on Friday (Sept 11).
On Monday (Sept 7), Rauf said there were two more Fridays before the Melaka state assembly had to be dissolved.
Melaka last held the state election on Nov 20, 2021, with Barisan Nasional securing 21 of the 28 seats in the assembly, while Pakatan Harapan won five seats and Perikatan Nasional took two.
Meanwhile, Rauf said the party had also been preparing for the state election for the past two years.
“We have been working on it for two years now. We are just waiting for the right time to draw the curtain. We will announce the preparations,” he said.
Asked about the party’s direction on cooperation with other parties for the state election, Rauf said Melaka Umno would follow the party’s direction and leave it to the people to choose who they thought would be the best strategic partner for the Melaka state government.
He also said Melaka Umno would defend all 21 seats it won in the last state election and would not compromise on the seats should it cooperate with other parties in the state election.
“This (to compete) is the respective parties’ right. But we won those 21 seats, so we cannot compromise on sharing these 21 seats with others.
“We will contest the seats we currently hold. As for the other seven seats, the parties that won them should contest and defend their respective seats.
“We will defend the seats that we won,” he said.
