Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Talks of Ab Rauf replacing Sulaiman as Malacca CM arises again






Talks of Ab Rauf replacing Sulaiman as Malacca CM arises again


Speculation is rife once again that Malacca may soon see a new chief minister.

Malaysiakini has learned from a source that Tanjung Bidara assemblyperson Ab Rauf Yusoh is set to replace Sulaiman Ali as the chief minister.

The source also said Pakatan Harapan will receive one exco position in the reshuffle.

Earlier, Sinar Harian reported that Sulaiman will be replaced by Ab Rauf this Friday and that the swearing-in ceremony will take place before Malacca Governor Mohd Ali Rustam.

Members of the press who waited for three hours in front of the Chief Minister’s Office at Seri Negeri failed to get a response from Sulaiman on this matter.

It was also reported that sources close to the chief minister said there have been no instructions on the matter thus far.


Tanjung Bidara assemblyperson Ab Rauf Yusoh


Meanwhile, Ab Rauf, who is also the Malacca Umno chief, refused to comment on this issue when contacted by the press.

“I don’t want to comment further until there is more information,” he said.

This comes two days after Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malacca may soon see a Madani government similar to the federal level.

The Umno president did not provide further details on the matter, saying it must be discussed first with Sulaiman and Ab Rauf.

Malacca BN has 21 seats in the state legislative assembly - followed by Pakatan Harapan with five seats and Perikatan Nasional with two seats.

Malacca Harapan assemblypersons have already joined as government backbenchers in December last year, following the formation of the federal unity government.

However, the Malacca state exco line-up remained exclusively BN assemblypersons.


Malacca Chief Minister Sulaiman Ali


There have been repeated allegations since the Malacca state election in 2021 that Sulaiman was being undermined by Rauf, who has denied the claims.

The latest speculation surfaced last December, when it was reported that Sulaiman would step down as chief minister in early January to be replaced by Ab Rauf.

However, both Sulaiman and Rauf denied the rumours, saying Rauf was only the acting chief minister because Sulaiman was on leave at the time until Dec 28.


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