Too late for talks with DAP, resignation letters already in, says Melaka CM

Too late for talks with DAP, resignation letters already in, says Melaka CM

Melaka chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh said the state government accepted DAP’s decision to leave the administration and will manage the process in accordance with the state constitution and existing regulations.

PETALING JAYA: The Melaka government has ruled out any negotiations with the DAP assemblymen who quit the state administration, saying their resignation letters had already been submitted.

Chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh said the letters were received yesterday, shortly after Melaka DAP’s press conference announcing its withdrawal from the state government, Berita Harian reported.

“That is why when the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) asked us to negotiate, I said it was no longer possible because they had already submitted the letters,” he was quoted as saying at a press conference at the close of the Melaka state assembly’s second meeting of its fifth term at Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh, today.

The DAP representatives who resigned from their state government posts were executive councillor for entrepreneur development, cooperatives and consumer affairs Allex Seah (Kesidang), deputy speaker Kerk Chee Yee (Ayer Keroh), and deputy executive councillors Low Chee Leong (Kota Laksamana) and Leng Chau Yen (Bandar Hilir).

The resignations came after the state assembly passed a bill allowing the appointment of up to seven unelected assemblymen, a move strongly opposed by Melaka DAP.

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The bill was passed with the support of 23 assemblymen, while five voted against it.

Melaka DAP chairman Khoo Poay Tiong said the amendment was fundamentally at odds with democratic principles, insisting that assemblymen should be elected by the people rather than appointed.

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said the party would not reverse the resignations, China Press reported.

Loke said he had already conveyed DAP’s position to Anwar, who is also the Pakatan Harapan chairman, adding that the party’s central leadership respected and supported the decision.

Rauf also said the state government had accepted DAP’s decision and would handle all related processes in accordance with the state constitution and existing regulations.

He said that the exco portfolio for entrepreneur development, cooperatives and consumer affairs, vacated by Seah, would be held in an acting capacity by a state exco member

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Separately, Rauf said he had also received a letter from the state PKR expressing disagreement with DAP’s move.

“Any decision on restructuring the state administration will be made carefully, prudently and based on the interests of the administration and the people, not because of political pressure or hasty action,” he said.