Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh has insisted there is no room for further negotiations after DAP Melaka officially withdrew from the state government, despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim calling for discussions to resolve the matter.
Ab Rauf said the decision had already taken effect after all resignation letters from DAP representatives were formally submitted to the state government immediately following the party’s announcement on Tuesday.
“The letters have already been submitted. When the Prime Minister suggested negotiations, I told him it was no longer possible because DAP had already handed in all their resignation letters,” he said after the Melaka State Legislative Assembly sitting on Wednesday.
He explained that the resignations took immediate effect, resulting in changes to the seating arrangement in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), reflecting DAP’s official withdrawal from the state administration.
When asked whether the state government would consider reopening talks, Ab Rauf said the next move would depend entirely on Pakatan Harapan (PH). He added that the state government had also received a letter from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), indicating that the party might not agree with DAP’s decision to leave the coalition.
Despite the political shake-up, Ab Rauf stressed that the state administration remains stable and capable of functioning without DAP. He said vacant positions left by DAP representatives would not be filled immediately, as the state is only months away from the dissolution of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly.
Calling for a more mature political approach, the Chief Minister said there was no need to prolong political disputes or create unnecessary hostility between former coalition partners. He emphasised that every party has the right to determine its own political direction based on its own strength and considerations.
“There is no need to become enemies simply because we are no longer governing together. Whether DAP is in or out, the state government remains stable,” he said.
Ab Rauf also expressed his appreciation to DAP representatives for their contributions during their time in the Unity Government, thanking them for their cooperation in implementing state policies and development programmes, while maintaining that political differences should not stand in the way of serving the people of Melaka.
