MELAKA – Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali may have received quite a few brickbats from various quarters over his performance during the 19 months as chief minister of Melaka since March last year.
But, remarkably enough, voters in urban seats now under Pakatan Harapan (PH) appear to be more generous in their assessment of the Umno leader in the leadup to the upcoming snap polls in Melaka.
Sentiments on the ground echo the belief it would be unjust to judge his leadership based on the very short time that he helmed the state’s administration.
Similarly, they feel that PH’s former chief minister Adly Zahari, who is Sulaiman’s immediate predecessor, also deserves more time to prove his superintendence over the state. Adly led the state for 22 months from May 2018 to March 2020.
A voter in the Kesidang state seat, who asked to be identified only as Low CH, stated that both leaders were not granted enough time to bring any substantial changes to the state.
“It all happened too fast. Similar to Perikatan Nasional, PH only governed for such a short period and there’s not enough time for them to do anything, or to make great changes.
“Creating changes in the state will take time, maybe five to 10 years. It won’t happen in one or two years.
“We have seen the development of our country for so many years, it’s almost 65 years. Each of them (Sulaiman and Adly) barely governed for over two years and we expect everything to be changed? No way,” Low said.
Based on his observations over the past few years, the retiree in his late 60s said it is fairly difficult to identify whether the chief ministers managed to fulfill some of their respective pledges to the people.
“We need to look beyond the surface. We must see what the chief ministers have actually done on the ground.
“They said they have helped people. Where? Who? They can say anything they want to say. I can also say I have helped many people. How would you know?” he asked in jest.
Yap Siew Kin, a trader on Jonker Walk, also shared similar sentiments, expressing dissatisfaction over the state government being changed, not once but twice, causing chaos and instability in Melaka.
“Previously, when PH was governing, the time they had was not long enough, so they couldn’t do much,” she said, referring to PH’s rule after the general election in May 2018 until the takeover by PN in March 2020.
“Some parties blame them for not bringing much change. They (Barisan Nasional) also took years to show results. There’s no use to blame PH.
“What’s important is that they (assemblymen) stop ‘jumping’ around. The people are suffering to make ends meet, but the politicians have caused anarchy in the state,” said the voter in the Kota Laksamana constituency, which is a DAP stronghold.
Asked if PH stands a chance to recapture the state in the coming snap polls, Yap said she is of the view that the coalition led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has a high chance of making a comeback.
“I think they stand a chance, give them one more chance. But it is difficult to say.
“Some feel PH has been given a chance, but they didn’t show any results. So they wanted to swap back to the party before. But BN also has its problems. It’s difficult to say.
“What we want is stability. Let us earn a living. That is all we ask for,” she opined.
‘We didn’t wish for this election’
Meanwhile, senior marketing executive Jason Lim admitted that he does not know much, or perhaps has not seen much, of BN’s ‘poster boy’ Sulaiman when he was the chief minister.
“Maybe Sulaiman brought development in the rural areas, but I am not really sure about that. The only thing I can say is that Adly is very friendly to the people,” Lim said.
The Ayer Keroh voter pointed out that the state election is unnecessary, stressing: “I didn’t wish for this election.
“It is annoying and upsetting. I don’t think it should happen at this moment. Although the daily Covid-19 cases are decreasing, they may increase after the election.
“I think this election could have been postponed or maybe until the next general election.”
Adly, who is also Amanah vice-president, held the chief minister’s post for 22 months after PH took over the government for the first time in history in the 14th general election.
However, on the back of the Sheraton Move, the historical state fell into PN’s hands and Sulaiman was then named Melaka’s 12th chief minister in March 2020.
On October 4, the state assembly was dissolved after four assemblymen withdrew their support for Sulaiman.
Following which, the Election Commission has fixed November 20 for voting, with early voting on November 16. Nominations were held on Monday. – The Vibes, November 14, 2021
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