KUALA LUMPUR – The Umno Supreme Council has instructed the party’s election machinery to prepare for the Melaka polls following the state government’s collapse after four assemblymen withdrew their support for now caretaker chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan told a press conference at Menara Dato Onn tonight that the machinery has been told to ensure the standard operating procedures set by the Election Commission are adhered to.
He said the Supreme Council will meet again to decide on the party’s cooperation with PAS under the Muafakat Nasional banner, and with Bersatu under Perikatan Nasional.
Umno is taking into consideration the potential for three-cornered fights, he said.
“We will discuss this in the next meeting,” he said when exiting the party headquarters at 11.45pm after a meeting of the Supreme Council.
He also confirmed the membership revocation of Sg Udang rep Datuk Seri Idris Haron and Pantai Kundor’s Datuk Nor Azman Hassan, who are among the four to pull their support for Sulaiman.
Melaka Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh echoed Ahmad’s statement, saying the Supreme Council will reconvene another time to decide on the state election, but he did not provide details on the next meet.
Asked about a leaked audio recording purportedly between the party’s former Rembia rep Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis and independent Pengkalan Batu assemblyman Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee in which his name is mentioned, Rauf denied being part of any discussion involving an offer of millions of ringgit to support the Umno-led state government.
“In politics, everybody can mention everybody’s name. It has nothing to do with me.”
On Monday, the four reps led by Idris announced their loss of confidence in Sulaiman’s handling of the Melaka administration, leading to the dissolution of the state assembly and the need to hold an election within 60 days. – The Vibes, October 14, 2021
Additional reporting by Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain
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