[UPDATED] Pakatan props Adly for Melaka CM if coalition wins polls

MELAKA – If he retains his Bukit Katil seat, state Pakatan Harapan chief Adly Zahari will be the coalition’s pick for chief minister again.

This ends weeks-long speculation over who will officially lead the coalition in the event it wins the Melaka election. 

The announcement was made by PH chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim here during an event to unveil the coalition’s election manifesto, with slightly over a week left until polling day. 

Speaking at the programme, Anwar said a consensus has been reached among the three main PH components – PKR, DAP and Amanah – to name Adly as its sole candidate for the state’s top post. 

He said this is in contrast to PH’s opponents in the election and incumbent government comprising Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional, which are set to name one candidate each for chief minister. 

“If you vote for them and they win, there will be a huge conflict as they will have two candidates.

“We, on the other hand, will showcase how similar we are to when we were ruling Melaka, and our narrative is always consistent. Whatever move to return the mandate to PH must be supported.” 

Others who were present for the event were Adly, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu. 

Among the promises made by Melaka PH under its manifesto are to enact an anti-hopping law, to recognise the position of the opposition chief as similar to an exco, and to provide equal funding to all assemblymen in the state regardless of party. 

Adly was Melaka chief minister when PH won the state in the 2018 general election but lost his post in March 2020 after several defections following the Sheraton Move that brought the PH administration down.

Adly is also PH Melaka chairman and Amanah vice-president.

Previously, there was speculation that a couple of other PH candidates for the Melaka election were also in the running to be named chief minister if the coalition wins the polls. 

They were PKR’s information chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and former Umno man and ex-Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron. 

Meanwhile, Anwar urged voters in Melaka to punish BN and PN for abusing their power when administering the state to enrich themselves and their families and cronies. 

“I cannot deny that the issues in Melaka and the fierce politicking have resulted in the rakyat feeling disappointed, and this feeling (of disappointment) has spilled over to all politicians (including PH). 

“They (BN and PN) must be rejected. The power is in your hands. The people of Melaka must decide whether to maintain a corrupt system or to ensure good governance based on principles and ethics.”

Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, when met by reporters, said his party will not campaign for the candidates of its PH ally parties. 

Instead, he said, DAP will only focus its efforts on the eight seats it is contesting in the polls. 

Loke said this when asked if the party will be lending support to PH’s candidates in Asahan and Pantai Kundor, Idris and Datuk Norazman Hassan, who were among the four former BN reps who withdrew support for the state leadership, triggering the election.  

DAP has been firm in rejecting any of the four “political frogs”. – The Vibes, November 10, 2021