Rauf to be sworn in as Melaka chief minister today

MELAKA: Melaka Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ab Rauf Yusoh is expected to be sworn in as chief minister today.

BN and Perikatan Nasional (PN) secured enough seats to form the state government in yesterday's 16th Melaka state election.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at 11am at the Melaka Yang di-Pertua Negeri's office, paving the way for Rauf to continue leading the state for a second term.

The BN-PN cooperation secured 24 of the 28 state seats contested, giving it a two-thirds majority in the state assembly.

BN won 21 seats, while PN secured three.

Earlier, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the alliance would nominate Ab Rauf to continue leading the state government following its victory in the election.

Rauf secured a more convincing victory in defending the Tanjung Bidara seat, winning by a majority of 8,615 votes compared with just 364 votes in the 15th Melaka state election in 2021.

He defeated Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate Mohd Yunazri Mustamiri in a straight fight.

In the 2021 state election, Rauf won Tanjung Bidara in a three-cornered contest with 3,559 votes, defeating PN candidate Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, who received 3,195 votes, and PH candidate Zainal Hassan, who garnered 489 votes.

Rauf was appointed Melaka's 13th chief minister on March 31, 2023, replacing Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali, who resigned.