[VIDEO] Rauf doesn’t pull Sulaiman’s strings: Melaka Umno Youth chief

MELAKA – It is fallacious to believe that Umno strongman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh is a person who is crazy for power, at least according to Melaka Umno Youth chief Fairul Nizam Roslan. 

Fairul Nizam, who will be contesting in the Asahan seat in the state election, also rubbished suggestions that incumbent chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali is a puppet for Rauf.

This is in reference to allegations made by Datuk Seri Idris Haron, his opponent in Asahan, that Sulaiman is merely a puppet in the state administration, with Rauf being the actual person with influence. 

“For your information, Rauf and Sulaiman have known each other for some time. And Rauf is not power crazy, neither is Sulaiman,” he said in an interview with The Vibes while campaigning for the election. 

“I know both of them, because one is my (former) chief minister, and the other is my party state liaison chairman. 

“To say that Sulaiman is taking orders from others, I can confidently say it is not true. A number of state executive councillors have also denied this.” 

Idris, in withdrawing his support for the Melaka government last month, had alleged that Rauf had been pulling Sulaiman’s strings on state matters, and also accused the latter of being discriminatory towards the non-Malays. 

Apart from being Melaka Umno chief, Rauf was also the state speaker prior to the assembly dissolution and has held multiple other posts in the party previously. 

He will be making his political debut in this election, taking on his former protege Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin in the Tg Bidara seat. Mas Ermieyati is now in Bersatu, one of the more recognisable names representing the party in Melaka.

Commenting on calls from certain factions in Umno demanding Rauf be given the chief minister position should Barisan Nasional (BN) recapture Melaka, Fairul Nizam said it has been decided that Sulaiman will lead the charge. 

He also denied that there are frictions within the party over the candidacy of the chief minister. 

“There is no issue (pertaining to the top post), because Tok Leman (Sulaiman) is our poster boy, and our future chief minister remains Tok Leman.

“I understand there may be some supporters (demanding Rauf be given the post), but not to an extent of infighting. The people of Melaka want Tok Leman, that is clear. 

Unfazed by ‘celebrity’ Idris Haron

On his much-anticipated clash with Idris in Asahan, Fairul Nizam said he is unperturbed by the former’s stature as an ex-Melaka chief minister and Asahan-born, and expressed confidence that the votes will be in his favour. 

The 43-year-old politician, who is known as Along among his voters, said this is based on a survey conducted on the ground that found that a huge number of fence-sitters want BN back in power. 

This is believed to be in reference to the vote swing in the 2018 general election where the sentiment against large-scale corruption involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd had caused the collapse of the BN government at the federal level and a number of states.

Fairul Nizam added that unlike him, who constantly pays a visit to the people of Asahan, the same cannot be said of Idris. 

“If I say I am extremely confident, some will say I am being arrogant. But for me, I believe the loyal BN voters and those on the fence who voted for Pakatan Harapan in 2018 will now vote for us. 

“I don’t believe that any vote swing will benefit Idris. I think the fact he withdrew support for the state government and triggered the election will also not be in his favour. 

“If anything, I believe there will be a vote in BN’s favour, God willing.”

Asahan will see a six-cornered fight. Other than Fairul Nizam and Idris, the other candidates are Perikatan Nasional’s Dhanesh Basil, and independents Mohd Akhir Ayob, Azhar Abd Hamid and Mohd Noor Salleh. – The Vibes, November 11, 2021