MELAKA: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh has given assurance that the Melaka state government's affairs will continue to run as usual even though the Melaka State Legislative Assembly is set to be dissolved on Wednesday (Sept 23).
He said the state administration, public service delivery, public welfare affairs, security, and the government's daily services will continue to operate as usual.
"Following this dissolution, the state government will carry out its responsibilities in the capacity of a caretaker government until a new state government is formed after the election process.
"Throughout this period, our priority is to ensure that the state administration remains orderly, services to the people are uninterrupted, and the people's interests continue to be safeguarded," Ab Rauf said at a press conference at the Seri Negeri Auditorium here.
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He added that all departments, state government agencies, and local authorities will continue to carry out their respective duties and responsibilities professionally based on prevailing laws, regulations, and governance.
"The state will continue to be well-administered, services to the people will continue to run, and the interests of the people will remain our priority," he said.
Asked whether he would retain existing candidates from Barisan Nasional and other partners to participate in this democratic arena, Ab Rauf said such cooperation would only be announced later.
"I don't want to answer that now; let's wait. I can't reveal that (who the candidates will be) because we will take many factors into account.
"I will announce that later when we have finalised all discussions," he said.
The 15th Melaka State Election was held on Nov 20, 2021, after four State Assemblymen (ADUN) supporting the government withdrew their support for the leadership of former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali on Oct 4, 2021.
The four Assemblymen were former Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron (BN-Sungai Udang), Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (BN-Pantai Kundor), Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad (Bersatu-Telok Mas), and Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Independent-Pengkalan Batu).
In that State Election, Barisan won 21 seats - with Umno securing 18 seats, MCA (two), and MIC (one) - thereby forming the state government with a more than two-thirds majority.
Pakatan Harapan won five seats through DAP with four seats and Amanah (one), while Perikatan Nasional won two seats.
However, political dynamics led to seat changes after Barisan’s Rembia Assemblyman, Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis, joined PAS, while Bersatu’s Bemban Assemblyman, Dr Mohd Yadzil Yaakub, was expelled from the party and became an Independent while remaining in the opposition bloc.
This caused Barisan to lose one seat,
However, it still maintained a majority in the assembly with 20 seats, thus not affecting the state government's administration.
The term of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly was set to end on Dec 27. – Bernama
