MELAKA: Are there more former Melaka chief ministers planning to follow in the footsteps of Datuk Seri Mohd Adib Mohamad Adam in leaving Umno and joining Pakatan Harapan (PH)?
After the fifth Melaka CM joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) last Saturday, there is now speculation that Datuk Seri Idris Haron may do the same.
It was reported last week that Mohd Adib, 77, who held the post of Melaka CM from July 1978 to April 1982, handed in his lifetime membership form to Bersatu at an event in Sungai Rambai.
A source told NSTP that Idris who is also Sungai Udang assemblyman might leave because he is unhappy with the party's leadership for failing to unite in its current situation of being in the opposition.
The source said the decision to leave the party could be the best solution as some quarters had questioned Idris' appointment as the opposition leader in the Melaka state assembly.
"There are those who insist Idris should not be the opposition leader as he has no position in any Umno divisions in Melaka. Instead they want Datuk Hasan Abd Rahman who is Sungai Rambai assemblyman and Jasin Umno division chief to be made opposition leader.
"Hasan rejected though, then they mooted deputy Masjid Tanah Umno division chief Datuk Wira Ismail Othman. This chaos led to Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi having to intervene," the source said.
The source added that following Ahmad Zahid's intervention, Melaka Umno assemblymen finally appointed Idris as opposition leader.
"The decision is not favoured by the new Melaka Umno liaison chief. Don't be surprised if this former CM follows in Mohd Adib's footsteps.
"In fact, if it is true (leaving Umno), this will be followed by other Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen who support him. This will surely lead to a new crisis in the Melaka Umno-BN leadership," the source said.
Meanwhile, Idris when contacted did not deny that he felt he was being denied his right to hold the position of opposition leader despite winning the Sungai Udang seat under BN.
"Like what I said before, if there are attempts to push me into a corner, I am prepared to make considerations," he said.
When asked if the 'considerations' include leaving Umno, he declined to comment.
"Melaka Umno must not take things for granted in their attempts to woo PH assemblymen. Haven't they thought of the possibility of BN assemblymen moving to PH?" he asked.