Ab Rauf to continue leading Melaka if BN wins, says Zahid

MELAKA - Barisan Nasional (BN) will continue to entrust Datuk Seri Dr Ab Rauf Yusoh with the post of Chief Minister if the coalition wins the 16th Melaka state election on Nov 14.

BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, however, that the proposal to allow Ab Rauf to continue serving as Chief Minister was subject to the powers vested in Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Dr Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.

"We will not pre-empt the powers vested in the Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri, but as BN chairman, I will propose Ab Rauf's name for him to continue serving in Melaka.

"However, we will first return this mandate to the people of Melaka. I hope their support will be translated into votes, enabling us to form the state government together with our strategic partners,” he said.

He told reporters this after accompanying Ab Rauf to the nomination centre for the Tanjung Bidara state constituency at Dewan Datuk Kapt (B) Hj Ab Karim, Japerun Tanjung Bidara Complex in Alor Gajah here today.

Ab Rauf, the incumbent Tanjung Bidara assemblyman, was accompanied by Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters led by its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to Dewan Datuk Kapt (B) Hj Ab Karim at the Tanjung Bidara Japerun Complex in Alor Gajah. Photo by Bernama

Zahid also expressed hope that the people of Melaka would carefully assess the performance of the state government under Ab Rauf's leadership before making their decision on polling day.

"We also do not want smear campaigns or campaigns being undermined by various improper tactics, and I expect the campaign atmosphere in Melaka to be relatively calm,” he said.

He also confirmed that BN, together with its strategic partner Perikatan Nasional (PN), would contest all 28 state seats in the Melaka election, describing this as a manifestation of togetherness.

"Umno is contesting 18 seats, MCA four seats and MIC one seat, while the remaining seats are contested by our partners in PN.

"This demonstrates togetherness, at a time when many had expected MCA to boycott the Melaka state election or, at the very least, to be unhappy with the arrangement. However, this did not happen. Instead, MCA was allocated four seats,” he said.

The Election Commission (EC) has set Nov 14 as polling day for the 16th Melaka state election, while early voting will be held on Nov 10. - BERNAMA