Melaka State Government Administration to Function Normally Despite Assembly Dissolution, Says Chief Minister

MELAKA, Sept 22 – Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh has given assurances that the daily administration and public affairs of the Melaka state government will continue as usual following the official dissolution of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly effective Sept 23.

Speaking at a press conference at the Seri Negeri Auditorium to announce the dissolution date, Ab Rauf affirmed that civil service delivery, public welfare programs, security management, and core administrative services will proceed without interruption.

“Following this dissolution, the state government will carry out its responsibilities in the capacity of a caretaker government until a new state government is formed after the election process,” Ab Rauf stated.

“Throughout this period, our priority is to ensure that the state administration remains orderly, services to the people are uninterrupted, and the people’s interests continue to be safeguarded,” he added.

The Chief Minister stressed that state government agencies, civil departments, and local authorities will continue executing their respective statutory mandates in accordance with existing laws, regulations, and institutional governance principles.

“The state will continue to be well-administered, services to the people will continue to run, and the interests of the people will remain our priority,” he emphasized.

When asked by reporters whether Barisan Nasional would retain existing assemblymen or field new candidates alongside coalition partners in the upcoming state polls, Ab Rauf declined to reveal candidate lineups.

“I don’t want to answer that now, let’s wait. I can’t reveal that because we will take many factors into account. So I can’t announce today – the day I dissolve [the assembly] – who the candidates will be… that wouldn’t be fair to me. I will announce that later when we have finalised all discussions,” Ab Rauf explained.

The previous state election took place on Nov 20, 2021, following a political shift that saw four assemblymen withdraw support for former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali. The four representatives involved were former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron (BN-Sungai Udang), Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (BN-Pantai Kundor), Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad (Bersatu-Telok Mas), and Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Independent-Pengkalan Batu).

In the 2021 election, Barisan Nasional secured a two-thirds majority by winning 21 seats, comprising UMNO with 18 seats, MCA with two, and MIC with one. Pakatan Harapan won five seats (DAP four, Amanah one), while Perikatan Nasional won two.

Subsequent realignments altered the assembly’s composition when Rembia assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis joined PAS, and Bemban assemblyman Dr Mohd Yadzil Yaakub was expelled from Bersatu to become an Independent in the opposition bloc. Despite losing one seat, Barisan Nasional retained 20 seats, maintaining its working majority ahead of the assembly’s mandate expiry originally set for Dec 27.

–NMT