Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has named Datuk Seri Dr Ab Rauf Yusoh as the coalition’s choice to remain Melaka Chief Minister if BN wins the state election on Nov 14.
However, Zahid stressed that the final appointment would be subject to the authority of Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.
He said he would recommend Ab Rauf to continue leading the state, but BN would first have to secure a fresh mandate from Melaka voters.
“We will not pre-empt the powers vested in the Yang Dipertua Negeri Melaka. However, as BN chairman, I will propose Ab Rauf’s name for him to continue serving the state.
“Nevertheless, we must first return this mandate to the people of Melaka. I hope their support will translate into a victory that allows us to form the state government together with our strategic partners,” he said.
Zahid was speaking to reporters after accompanying Ab Rauf to the nomination centre for the Tanjung Bidara state seat at Dewan Datuk Kapt (B) Hj Ab Karim, Kompleks Japerun Tanjung Bidara, in Alor Gajah.
He also urged voters to assess the performance of Ab Rauf’s state administration before making their decision on polling day.
Zahid further called for a clean campaign, warning against slander and other forms of misconduct, while predicting that campaigning in Melaka would remain relatively calm.
He confirmed that BN and its strategic partners in Perikatan Nasional (PN) would contest all 28 state seats in the election, describing the arrangement as a show of unity.
UMNO will contest 18 seats, MCA four and MIC one, while the remaining seats will be contested by PN partners.
Zahid said MCA’s decision to contest four seats also demonstrated that the party had not boycotted the election or withdrawn from the coalition’s preparations, despite speculation that it might do so.
The Election Commission has set Nov 14 as polling day for the Melaka state election, with early voting scheduled for Nov 10.
