Melaka CM’s quitting has made Zahid specialist in changing heads of government

By admin-s On Mar 31, 2023

The spotlight should shine on UMNO’s head honcho Zahid who has yet again proven his mastery as a specialist – or perhaps facilitator – in changing heads of government.

(Focus Malaysia) – SO ‘strong-willed’ Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali has chaired the Melaka state executive council’s (EXCO) meeting for the last time yesterday (March 29) for later in the evening UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed receiving Sulaiman’s resignation letter as Chief Minister (CM).

So the 12th CM of Melaka since March 2020 has eventually given in to earlier futile attempts to ‘overthrow’ him since October 2021 when former CM and Sungai Udang assemblyman Datuk Seri Idris Haron and three fellow colleagues declared loss of confidence and support for him as CM, hence claiming that the state government had therefore collapsed.

But the 58-year-old Lendu assemblyman (under the Masjid Tanah parliamentary constituency) survived that ordeal and has remained as CM ever since the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) landslide victory in the Melaka state election on Nov 20, 2021 when the coalition won 21 out of 28 state seats.

As ‘heavyweight’ Tanjung Bidara assemblyperson Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh is highly rumoured to replace Sulaiman, the spotlight should shine on UMNO’s head honcho Zahid who has yet again proven his mastery as a specialist – or perhaps facilitator – in changing heads of government.

Observant netizen Nuyiko has listed down the Deputy Prime Minister’s (DPM) feat as follows in his comments pertaining to a Malaysiakini report on the Bagan Datuk MP confirming Sulaiman’s resignation:

Perak MB Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluuddin to Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir;
PM from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob;
Johor MB from Datuk Hasni Mohammad to Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi
PM from Ismail Sabri to Anwar
And now Melaka CM.

In fact, the list can be extended as Zahid has also been instrumental in removing – “ruthlessly once-untouchable UMNO wardlords” in the likes of Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Tan Sri Noh Omar, Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and Khairy Jamaluddin from the party.

Despite Zahid’s role as perhaps the hidden architect of today’s unity government, Nuyiko reminded the power that be not to throw caution to the wind:

“Yes, he is instrumental in forming today’s government; he brought 30 MPs from BN which led to the support from GPS (Gabungan Parti Sarawak) and GRS (Gabungan Rakyat Sabah) later. But there is always a risk of having him as DPM.”