KUALA LUMPUR – Melaka Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh is officially the state’s 13th chief minister, following his oath-taking at the Melaka Governor’s Office this afternoon.
This follows the resignation of his predecessor, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, two days ago.
Donning a black baju Melayu and gold-coloured samping, the Tg Bidara assemblyman was sworn in before Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam at about 3.30pm today.
After taking his oath of office, loyalty and secrecy, Rauf signed the instruments of appointment to indicate his official commencement as chief minister, followed by a doa recital by Melaka mufti Datuk Abdul Halim Tawil.
The brief ceremony lasted for about 13 minutes.
Previously, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed that Sulaiman submitted his resignation letter as the state’s chief minister during a meeting at his office.
Subsequently, the Umno president proposed Rauf to be Sulaiman’s successor for the post.
Rauf had previously served as state executive councillor for industry, investment and entrepreneurial development, and was also state assembly speaker from May 2020 to November 2021.
In the recent Umno elections, Rauf retained his post as Masjid Tanah division chief unopposed, and was also re-elected to the party’s Supreme Council.
Sulaiman has insisted that his decision was due to health issues and he was neither pressured by any party to step down nor offered a position as senator.
“I don’t want the post anymore. I want to take care of my state constituency (Lendu) and get back to my normal life. I did say before that one term (as chief minister) is enough (for me),” he said. – The Vibes, March 31, 2023
