Disgruntled Malacca assemblypersons to complain to Agong

Disgruntled Malacca assemblypersons to complain to Agong

A group of Malacca state assemblypersons is planning to go to Istana Negara tomorrow to complain against the governor's decision to dissolve the Malacca state legislative assembly.

Pengkalan Batu state assemblyperson Norhizam Hassan Baktee (above) told Malaysiakini that 15 of them, including 11 from Pakatan Harapan, have agreed to bring their complaint to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after requests to meet with governor Mohd Ali Rustam were not entertained.

"As we are waiting for the Election Commission to make a decision whether to call for an election or to announce a state of emergency, Idris Haron (Umno-Sungai Udang) suggested that the 15 of us seek for an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong about this crisis.

"So, we will go to Istana Negara tomorrow by bus. This plan has been agreed upon by all, and we will be departing to the palace tomorrow," he said in a recorded audio statement sent to Malaysiakini.

A state DAP representative when contacted confirmed that there was such a plan, but when asked if all from Harapan will be joining, he said "maybe".

Norhizam, an independent representative, is part of four state assembly members who withdrew their support for BN-Perikatan Nasional state government, which triggered the dissolution of the Malacca state legislative assembly and automatically paved the way for a fresh state election.

The other three were Nor Azman Hassan (Umno-Pantai Kundor), Noor Effandi Ahmad (Bersatu-Telok Mas) and Idris.

Their withdrawal of support has led to outgoing chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali, who is from Umno, tose his majority.

Following this, 11 Harapan state assemblypersons together with the four, announced that they will seek a meeting with Ali to discuss efforts that can be taken to ensure continuity of the state administration.

However, according to Norhizam, the governor's office has not given any response to them.

Ali, who is also a former Malacca chief minister and Umno member, reportedly was under self-quarantine after coming in close contact with Covid-19 positive individuals.

"We regret that an announcement on dissolving the state assembly was made without holding a meeting with us and the 11 (from Harapan) to discuss the chief minister having lost his majority," said Norhizam, who suggested that an online meeting could still be held while Ali was in isolation.

"Up until now, we still have not received any response from the governor's office or Istana Melaka. We found that there are double standards of treatment between us and the state government.

"We are sad that 15 of us, state assemblypersons, who have physically proven that we form the majority but we are victimised by their double standards.

"In our view, the decision to dissolve the state assembly yesterday was a rushed one," he said.