AYER KEROH: The swearing-in ceremony of the 14th Chief Minister of Melaka is scheduled to take place tomorrow, March 31, at 3pm.
Melaka state secretary Datuk Zaidi Johari has confirmed that the ceremony will be held at Dewan Sri Utama, in front of the state's head of state, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, at Seri Negeri.
Zaidi further said the Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri has received the resignation letter of Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, who served as the state's 13th Chief Minister.
"In accordance with paragraph (a) of Clause 6 in Article 7 of the Melaka Constitution, the Yang di-Pertua Negeri will now elect a state assemblyman as the Chief Minister to lead the state council meeting.
"The appointment letter, swearing-in ceremony, as well as the oath-taking of the 14th Chief Minister will be held tomorrow (Friday) at 3pm," Zaidi said in a statement today.
Sulaiman was seen entering his office in Seri Negeri for the final time this morning.
The Lendu assemblyman arrived at the Seri Negeri complex at around 9am and reportedly met with his staff before leaving the complex at 11am.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that Sulaiman had submitted his resignation letter on Tuesday (March 28).
Previously, several Umno leaders, including Melaka Umno Chairman and Tanjung Bidara assemblyman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, had been speculated to replace Sulaiman.
The issue of changing the chief minister began a few months after Barisan Nasional's significant victory in the state election on Nov 20, 2021.
It is understood that the decision to resign was made following a meeting between Sulaiman and Zahid, who is also the Umno president, yesterday.