SHAH ALAM - Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh today rejected the claims of a Malacca state government executive committee chairman stating a new 'backdoor' chief minister will be appointed following Datuk Seri Sulaiman Ali's resignation on Wednesday.
Akmal who was the Malacca State Health and Anti-Drug executive committee chairman reminded the Malacca Tourism, Heritage and Culture Exco Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis that he also represented an assemblyman who party hopped several times and was not worthy of raising ‘backdoor’ sentiments.
He explained Jailani should not release such blunt statements about Sulaiman’s puzzling choice to resign and should instead ask the Lendu assemblyman to explain the reason why he did so.
Akmal stated the decision to appoint a new chief minister was not an effort to seize power as Sulaiman resigned without stating a reason.
"His (Jailani's) statement represented an individual’s statement and did not represent the executive committee line up.
"If you want to accuse others of entering through other means, Jailani himself had party hopped. Even though it was a personal statement, but I don’t agree with it,” he told Sinar Premium on Thursday.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Wednesday confirmed Sulaiman had resigned as Malacca Chief Minister.
The confirmation ended the rumours of a change in Malacca chief minister which had raged on since last year. State Umno chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh had allegedly lobbied the party’s top leadership to gain the post.
Rauf then denied such turmoil within the new state government when it was established as Sulaiman could gain the votes of all Umno division chiefs.
Rauf was appointed as the state Industrialisation, Investment and Entrepreneur Development executive committee chairman.
In December Sulaiman denied speculation of him resigning the following month.
Akmal at the time urged any parties not to speculate on who would be appointed as Malacca Chief Minister as it was the party’s prerogative to provide the names to the Yang di-Pertua Tun Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.
"Whether we agree or not all parties must agree with the names decided and would be given to Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT) at 3pm tomorrow (Friday).
"Any new chief minister candidate, we will wait for it and I once again state it is not a move to seize power,” he explained.
Meanwhile Malacca Umno deputy chairman Datuk Rais Yasin viewed Rauf as the party’s political figure suited to take over as the new chief minister.
He explained Rauf showed the qualities of a leader who stood with the party through thick and thin.
"I see Rauf as a suitable figure to take over as he was a party man during Umno’s ups and downs,” the Malacca state Education, Science, Technology and Innovation executive committee chairman said.