Melaka about to have a backdoor CM, says exco

PETALING JAYA: An Umno executive councillor says Melaka is about to have a “backdoor” chief minister, amid fresh rumours that current chief minister Sulaiman Ali will be replaced.

Jailani Khamis, the executive councillor for tourism, heritage and culture in Melaka, said Malaysians were well aware of the phrase “backdoor government”.

“What we’re about to see over the next few days is a backdoor chief minister.

“This is a ‘new species’ from Umno and Barisan Nasional,” the Rembia assemblyman told FMT.

Earlier, Melaka Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh declined to comment on rumours the state was set to have a new chief minister, saying he would wait “until more information” surfaces.

Sinar Harian reported that a new chief minister would be sworn in before governor Ali Rustam on Friday to replace Sulaiman.

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Members of the media had gathered for three hours at the chief minister’s office at Seri Negara today as Sulaiman chaired a state government meeting. However, they were told that Sulaiman did not want to meet the press.

This is not the first time that rumours Sulaiman would be replaced had surfaced.

In November 2021, after the state election, Rauf had been accused of trying to lobby top party leaders so that he would be named for the chief minister’s post. He was also absent when Sulaiman was sworn in.

Rauf later denied talk of any turmoil in the newly formed state government, saying Sulaiman had the backing of all Umno division chiefs. Rauf was also made executive councillor for industry, investment and entrepreneurial development.

In December, Sulaiman denied speculation that he would be resigning from the post the following month. This followed a media report that he would be resigning on Jan 3 to make way for Rauf.

Rauf then claimed that certain quarters were trying to drive a wedge between him and Sulaiman by spreading malicious rumours about their relationship.