MELAKA: The Melaka state government was rocked after four state assemblymen announced that they have lost confidence in Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.
The quartet said following their move in withdrawing support for the Chief Minister, the state government technically has collapsed.
The four state assemblymen are Idris Haron (BN-Sungai Udang); Nor Azman Hassan BN- Pantai Kundor); Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Independent - Pengkalan Batu); and, Noor Effandi Ahmad (Bersatu - Telok Mas).
Idris said they had already sent a letter to Sulaiman on their decision to withdraw their support.
"We also resigned (as state executive councillors) which means the government is no more," Idris said during a press conference, here, today.
The State Legislative Assembly has 28 seats with 14 seats held by Barisan Nasional (BN), Bersatu (2), DAP (7), PKR (2), Amanah (2) and Independent (1).
In the 14th General Election, Pakatan Harapan (PH) won 15 seats and 13 seats were garnered by BN. It saw PH forming the state government with Amanah's Adly Zahari becoming the new Chief Minister.
In March last year, however, two Bersatu assemblymen and one each from PKR and DAP walked across the aisle, which saw Sulaiman becoming the Chief Minister after gaining the majority required.
Idris who is former Melaka Chief Minister said the withdrawal of support was because of their distrust in what they claimed as the state government's flip-flop decisions while some decisions taken were not implemented properly.
"A lot of state government decisions have not been implemented (though) they have already been decided. It's as if there are two lions on one mountain, so it raised our concerns and roused us to change the current situation.
"So far, I have stated that the four of us along with the 11 Pakatan Harapan (PH) assemblymen do not believe and do not support the state government's leadership, thus proving that the state government led by Sulaiman has lost the majority support.
"The interest of the people is paramount above all else. If all the actions of the state government are not correct and not objective in defending the people's fate, especially during a Covid-19 environment that is so restrictive, and in an economic environment that has shown no progress, this is our action.
"Insya-Allah, we will have a solution that will provide more opportunities in terms of progress and welfare for the people," he said.
Meanwhile, Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said the pact will send a letter to Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam to inform that the Sulaiman-led state government had lost its majority.
He said, this was in line with the provisions as contained in Article 7 (4) of the Melaka State Constitution which reads: "If the Chief Minister no longer has the trust of a majority number of state assemblymen, the Chief Minister must resign from the 'Majlis Mesyuarat', unless at the request of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri the State Legislative Assembly is dissolved".
"I represent the PH state assemblymen, while Datuk Seri Idris, represents the four state assemblymen, we seek to have a meeting with Tun (Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam) to discuss efforts that can be taken to ensure the state's political stability and the continuity of government administration.
"PH's priority at the moment is to ensure the political stability of the state, to ensure efficient, responsible and transparent administration can be realised for the welfare of the people," he said.
On the possible Chief Minister candidate from PH, Adly said his party will first meet and hold discussions with the state governor.
"If we look at the State Constitution, the power to appoint (the Chief Minister) is within Tun's (Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam) jurisdiction.
"We will meet with Tun first to discuss for the good of the state," he said.