Amanah president Mohamad Sabu has urged voters to support Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the November 14 Melaka state election, warning them to learn from the political crisis in Negeri Sembilan that he blamed on Barisan Nasional (BN).
Speaking at a ceramah on Tabung Haji in Melaka last night, Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, said BN had attempted to remove Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun in April in a bid to take control of the state government.
He compared the episode to the Sheraton Move in February 2020, when Bersatu and several PKR MPs joined forces with BN and PAS to bring down the PH-led federal government.
“Aminuddin was doing an excellent job as menteri besar. They should have allowed him to complete his term, which was supposed to end in 2028,” he said.
“But BN’s 14 assemblymen withdrew their support for Aminuddin. This was like the Sheraton Move. Halfway through the term, they tried to seize power,” he added.
The five-term MP urged Melaka voters to treat the Negeri Sembilan episode as a warning and use the upcoming election to put Malaysian politics back on the right track.
“Let what happened in Negeri Sembilan serve as a lesson. Help return Melaka under PH rule,” he said.
He also called on voters to help PH secure at least 15 seats, the number required for a simple majority in the 28-seat Melaka state assembly.
“Our representatives will take their oaths and continue the glorious administration that we had years ago,” he said, referring to the PH government led by state PH chief Adly Zahari from 2018 to 2020.
That administration collapsed following the Sheraton Move.
PH has yet to decide whether to form an electoral pact or contest the November 14 polls independently.
BN, which currently leads the Melaka state government, has said it would negotiate with potential partners over a possible alliance. Perikatan Nasional (PN) has also been seeking cooperation with the Umno-led coalition.
BN had initially expressed interest in working with PN, led by PAS, in Melaka following their alliance’s convincing victory in the August 1 Negeri Sembilan polls.
Bersatu, a component party of PN that will contest under its own banner, has also indicated that it is open to forming electoral pacts with other parties.
