PH withdrawal from state govt was unexpected, says Rauf

Melaka chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh said he did not expect Pakatan Harapan’s withdrawal from the Barisan Nasional-led state government in July after almost three years of working together.

The Melaka BN chairman said he had given PH representatives the opportunity to be part of the state administration at the start of his appointment as chief minister in March 2023.

“All government policies were formulated fairly, without political bias.

“But they decided to resign from the state Cabinet, something we did not expect or ask to happen,” he told FMT.

However, Rauf stressed that PH representatives’ withdrawal had not affected his administration’s ability to continue serving the people.

“Without them, we can still continue serving the people.”

Five Melaka PH assemblymen withdrew from the state administration on July 16 following a constitutional amendment allowing the appointment of up to seven unelected assemblymen.

The five assemblymen were Adly Zahari (Bukit Katil), Allex Seah (Kesidang), Kerk Chee Yee (Ayer Keroh), Low Chee Leong (Kota Laksamana) and Leng Chau Yen (Banda Hilir).

Seah resigned as entrepreneur development, cooperatives and consumer affairs executive councillor, while Kerk stepped down as deputy speaker. Low and Leng also resigned as deputy executive councillors.

Resolving people’s problems

When asked about his achievements as chief minister, Rauf said the success of his administration should not be measured by the scale of its projects but by how effectively it addressed the people’s concerns.

He said the state government identified residents’ problems through complaints collected by the state’s constituency development and coordination committee. These were then verified by village heads and district offices before actions were taken by the respective assemblymen and executive councillors.

Among the issues addressed were village roads that had yet to be paved, the lack of street lighting, as well as the provision of adult diapers and milk for bedridden patients.

Rauf said the same approach was also used to address problems faced by schools, support agricultural activities and meet the needs of fishermen and small-scale livestock farmers.

“Don’t ask me about major achievements. A major achievement is we resolved the rakyat’s problems,” he said.

“That gives me the greatest satisfaction… when people who need help receive it.”

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