[VIDEO] Umno afraid I’ll unearth ‘dark secrets’: Idris Haron on sacking, CM snub

MELAKA – A month after his sacking from Umno over his role in the collapse of the Melaka government, Datuk Seri Idris Haron has revealed what transpired behind the scenes during the height of the political crisis in the state. 

In particular, the now-Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Asahan constituency shared what led Umno to sack him rather than name him chief minister, after Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali lost majority support. 

Speaking to The Vibes in an interview, Idris said based on information he obtained, Umno’s decision could be down to two reasons. 

The first is that those in the party were afraid he would unearth more transgressions within the state government, while the second is that certain quarters were not keen on having a “principled man” leading the charge in Melaka. 

“There were some people who gave me the response ‘it’s because you are strict, won’t beat around the bush, a very principled man, see facts and figures, and don’t deal with mediocres’,” he said. 

“I was a chief minister for five years. I never deal with mediocres. When I plan something, it means business and is for the betterment of the people of Melaka. Perhaps, because of that, they were worried about me being the chief minister. 

“Some others said that I would uproot all the wrongdoings, malpractices, and unpleasant things happening under (Sulaiman’s) government during its tenure of one year and six months.” 

Idris added that several policies he introduced during his time as chief minister from from 2013 to 2018 have made him an unpopular figure among Umno’s ranks. 

Among others, he said many were unhappy with his decision to bar staff in his office from applying for Datukship, adding that the motivation behind this was to ensure the rakyat is more comfortable with meeting these personnel on the ground. 

On October 4, Idris and three other assemblymen withdrew support for Sulaiman, citing a loss of confidence in the state administration. 

Despite political manoeuvring taking place behind the scene in a bid to avoid an election, with Idris supposedly securing the support of Pakatan Harapan (PH) reps, the state assembly was dissolved. 

Idris was then sacked from Umno on October 7. 

He said he was particularly bemused by Umno’s decision to not allow him to replace Sulaiman in leading the state, especially with the opposition then agreeing to back him. 

“They knew that the group of PH assemblymen agreed to appoint me as chief minister, so there is this big question mark in my mind – why are they so afraid if these people comprising DAP, Amanah, and PKR have agreed that an Umno man will lead the coalition?

“This is something good for Umno, when even the opposition recognises an Umno man. But suddenly, I was sacked from the party.” 

Idris also rubbished notions that he withdrew support for Sulaiman last month out of frustration that he was overlooked for the chief minister position when Barisan Nasional (BN) replaced PH as the state government in March 2020, despite him being the then opposition leader for BN. 

He said the allegations that he was gunning for the state’s top post was not true, noting that he even snubbed a proposal from PH to lead the coalition amid the scrambling in March last year. 

Idris said if anything, Sulaiman’s appointment proved that the one with any ambition for power in the state is Melaka Umno chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh. 

“When we lost in 2018, Umno installed me as the opposition leader. When the PH government collapsed after the Sheraton Move (in March 2020), by convention, as opposition leader, they should have appointed me as the chief minister, but it didn’t happen. 

“They claim I have always wanted to be chief minister, but they should look at the person who appointed a puppet (Sulaiman) for the post. Everything needed to be referred back to the state liaison chief,” he said, referring to Rauf. 

“So when all fingers are pointing at me as if I’ve always wanted to be chief minister, let me ask them in return; who is the man that appointed a puppet? He is the one who always wanted to be (chief minister). Now, he (Rauf) is contesting.” – The Vibes, November 10, 2021