New Melaka Lineup May Include Deputy Executive Councillors

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Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the new Melaka executive council would also include members from other parties in the federal government coalition. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has hinted that several old faces in the previous Melaka executive council would be dropped from the new state government formed by chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh.
He said the new exco lineup, which could include deputy executive councillors for important portfolios, had been presented to the Melaka governor, Ali Rustam.
Zahid said the executive council would also include members from other parties in the federal government coalition.
“There are changes not just in terms of portfolios, but changes in several names and there may also be deputy excos for certain portfolios,” he told reporters here.
Zahid, who is chairman of Barisan Nasional, said BN was ready to share power in Melaka although it held the majority of state assembly seats following the November 2021 elections.
“Although BN won 21 of the 28 state seats, we will share power with the other parties based on the spirit of the unity (federal) government.”
When asked whether Rembia assemblyman Jailani Khamis would be kept as an executive councillor or face disciplinary action for opposing the chief minister’s appointment, Zahid said he was leaving the matter to Rauf, who is Melaka Umno chief.
He said differences of opinion should be conveyed through the internal channels in Umno instead of publicly.
Rauf had dismissed criticism about his appointment from Jailani, who was an executive councillor in the previous state government, by calling for a focus on the state instead of quarrelling among one another.
The chief minister said assemblymen in the government bloc should shift their focus towards revamping Melaka and steering it towards a progressive path.
This comes after Jailani said he did not support Rauf’s appointment as chief minister. Previously, amid speculation last week about Sulaiman Ali’s ouster, Jailani said a “backdoor chief minister” would be appointed to replace Sulaiman. - FMT

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