KUALA LUMPUR – The leadership of Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali could face a fresh challenge following rumours that he will face a vote of no-confidence in the upcoming state assembly sitting on July 25.
According to Sin Chew Daily, quoting sources, Melaka Umno chief Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh is garnering support to take the state’s top post from Sulaiman.
Rauf, who is the state exco for investment, industry and entrepreneurial development, is often speculated to be at odds with Sulaiman but has repeatedly denied that he has any part in such movements or whether there was even internal pressure for the latter to resign.
There were also previous complaints from several Melaka Umno division chiefs against Rauf for his supposed arrogant behaviour and contentious attitude towards Sulaiman.
Despite BN winning 21 out of 28 seats in the state elections in November last year, there were constant rumours of a leadership tussle in Melaka that went on well into this year, all focused on Sulaiman and Rauf’s supposed strained relationship.
In the 2021 polls, Sulaiman won the Lendu seat with a 3,104-vote majority, an overwhelming total compared to the 627-vote majority he garnered in 2018.
Rauf, who is the Tg Bidara assemblyman, had won with only a 364-vote majority against his closest contender, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin from Bersatu.
On May 12, Sulaiman denied resigning as the state’s chief minister, saying such rumours were aimed at destabilising the state government.
Sulaiman had stressed then that this issue should not have risen, given Melaka Umno and Barisan Nasional are now focusing on winning back parliamentary seats that were lost in the 14th general election.
As early as March, party insiders had also said that Sulaiman continues to face fresh attempts to wrest away power, given that several key policy decisions were being made without his consent. – The Vibes, July 8, 2022
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