MELAKA - Former Pengkalan Batu assemblyman Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee, famously known as 'YB Gangster,' is set to re-enter the political arena, confirming his candidacy in the upcoming Bersatu election for the Hang Tuah Jaya Division.
Norhizam who earned the nickname 'YB Gangster,' announced his political comeback, confirming that he would contest in the Bersatu elections for the Hang Tuah Jaya Division.
Although he did not disclose which position he vied for, he mentioned that the Division Chief role would not be part of this round of elections.
Driven by a passion to defend the rights of the Malay community, Norhizam said that his commitment to championing the Malay cause had never wavered.
This dedication, he said, was the reason he left DAP and joined Bersatu.
He believed that his re-entry into politics would breathe new life into the political landscape of Melaka, which he described as lacklustre in his absence.
"Right now, who is capable of defending the Malay people, the Malay race? Which party? That is the party we should support.
"The Malay spirit is strong within us. That is why I left DAP. Once we were free, only then did we join a party (Bersatu). Do not let people say we hopped parties; there is no such thing as hopping,” he said.
When asked about his party membership, Norhizam said that the exact date remained secret.
"When I became a member, it was done discreetly. I cannot reveal it yet; wait until Nov 2, Insyallah, everything will be clear,” he said.
Norhizam's political journey had been eventful. Originally a member of Umno, he left the party in 2006 to join DAP. Under the DAP ticket, he won the Pengkalan Batu State Assembly seat in 2018.
However, after the Sheraton Move political coup in 2020, he left DAP and became an Independent Assemblyman, supporting both the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) state governments.
In Oct 2021, Norhizam joined former Melaka chief minister Idris Haron in withdrawing support for the government led by Umno's Sulaiman Md Ali, triggering the Melaka State Election.
He contested as an independent candidate but failed to retain his Pengkalan Batu seat, garnering just 1,218 votes.