KUALA LUMPUR – Former Melaka exco Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee has refused to return the official car provided to him, unless the state secretary organises a special handover ceremony for all the state executive council members.
According to Harian Metro, Norhizam stressed that Datuk Kamel Mohamad should organise such a programme for all excos, including those currently serving in the caretaker government led by Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.
“I do not use the official car. I have only been keeping it because I have my own vehicle. But I want justice because the state assembly was dissolved on October 4. There’s no state government anymore.
“Who appointed this caretaker government? I do not recognise this caretaker government just because state assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh appointed Sulaiman as the caretaker chief minister,” he told the Malay daily.
Norhizam said that apart from him and former state excos Datuk Seri Idris Haron and Datuk Noor Affandi Ahmad, seven other excos in the temporary government should follow suit and return their respective vehicles.
The excos include Datuk Seri Abd Ghafaar Atan, Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis, Datuk Latipah Omar, Datuk Roslan Ahmad, Datuk Ismail Othman, Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen, and Datuk Rahmad Mariman.
“I want all members of the media to be present to take photos of me and the excos handing over our vehicles, then it’s fair,” he said.
It is known that all Melaka excos are provided with a Toyota Camry each.
It was reported that Idris and Noor Effandi returned their official vehicles on Friday.
Yesterday, Bernama reported that Sulaiman had asked the three Melaka excos who resigned to return government assets, including official vehicles.
He was quoted as saying that Idris, Noor Effandi, and Norhizam are no longer excos.
“They have informed us that they have resigned and I have accepted their resignation letters, as has Governor Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.
“So, they are no longer excos and all assets such as cars have to be returned to the state secretary accordingly,” Sulaiman told reporters after attending an event in Tangga Batu, Melaka.
On Monday, Idris led three other Melaka assemblymen to withdraw their support for Sulaiman, citing a loss of confidence over his handling of the state government.
This resulted in the dissolution of the state assembly, with the state to face a snap election within 60 days. – The Vibes, October 10, 2021
