Ali Rustam set to become Melaka’s seventh Yang-di Pertua

All signs are pointing towards former Melaka Chief Minister Tan Sri Mohd Ali Rustam being made the seventh Yang-di Pertua Negeri, after the state government confirmed that the quarantine he is undergoing has nothing to do with Covid-19.

Ali Rustam and his family are currently undergoing a 14-day quarantine.

The imposition of a quarantine is apparently part of the standard operating procedures following the imposition of movement control order before he receives his instrument of appointment from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

When asked on Friday (May 29), Melaka health and anti-drug committee chairman Rahmad Mariman said the quarantine imposed on Mohd Ali was not because of Covid-19.

A close aide to Ali Rustam said the latter would be receiving his letter of appointment on June 5, before an official ceremony was held in the state on the same day.

He said Ali Rustam was healthy, but no visitors would be allowed to see him until the quarantine period was over.

The 70-year-old will create history as he is the first Melakan to be made a Yang-di Pertua.

Melaka’s first Yang-di Pertua was Tun Leong Yew Koh (Aug 31 1957–Aug 30 1959) from Sungai Siput, Perak); Tun Abdul Malek Yusuf (Aug 31,1959–Aug 30,1971, from Kg Chengkau, Negri Sembilan); Tun Abdul Aziz Abdul Majid (Aug 31,1971–May 9,1975, from Hulu Langat, Selangor); Tun Syed Zahiruddin Syed Hassan (May 23,1975– Nov 30,1984, from Tanjung Kerian, Perak); Tun Syed Ahmad Syed Mahmud Shahabudin (Dec 4,1984–June 3,2004, from Kulim, Kedah) and Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob (June 4,2004 to the present, from Kuantan, Pahang).

Tun Dr Mohd Khalil, 82, will end his tenure on June 4.

The Star