MALACCA could be the first to return to Barisan Nasional since May 2018 if attempts by some quarters in Pakatan Harapan to work with Umno to form a backdoor federal government succeed.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight plans are afoot involving two Malacca exco members to form a new government with Umno to derail the state leadership of Adly Zahari from Amanah.

They said the plan will be rolled out during the coming Malacca state assembly sitting from November 18 to 26 by rejecting the state budget.

In the 14^th general election, PH won 15 state seats in Malacca while BN, through Umno, won 13. Of PH’s 15 seats, Amanah has two, Bersatu (2), PKR (3) and DAP (8).

There have been recent talks of attempts to replace the PH government at the federal level without DAP and Amanah.

The idea behind the “backdoor government” is to ensure Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, of Bersatu, has enough numbers in Parliament to remain in power for the full term instead of handing over to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Sources previously told The Malaysian Insight that former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein is playing an active role in this plot by trying to get at least 30 lawmakers from Umno and BN to support Dr Mahathir.

One source told The Malaysian Insight the “backdoor government” without Amanah and DAP can be formed as early as November when Bersatu gets 60 parliamentary seats compared with the 28 it holds today.

Hishammuddin, however, has denied any involvement to oust DAP and Amanah from PH after Anwar raised the matter in Parliament last week.

Following the uncertainty, the PH secretarial council accused Hishammuddin of coming up with a mischievous proposal.

Yesterday, Hishammuddin again denied being part of such a conspiracy and urged PH politicians not to be threatened by someone without any post or power.

He also told PH to focus on governing instead of politicking.

It is in this context that sources are saying that the Malacca experiment will be undertaken to see if a backdoor state government can be formed.

“If the two state reps defect from PH and work with BN, they will then have 15 reps in the state assembly, compared to PH’s 12,” said a source close to the state government.

He has left out one DAP assemblyman who was arrested recently under the Security Offences and Special Measure Act (Sosma) 2012 for alleged ties with defunct terror group Tamil Tigers.

So far, three meetings have been held between one of the would-be defectors and Umno assemblymen, sources said.

“Their last meeting was in Jasin where the Umno assemblymen are preparing questions to be raised at the state assembly next month,” said a source.

Umno was also offered seven exco seats in the new state government while the two would-be defectors will become the next chief minister and exco.

“I have been made to understand that this backdoor move has the blessings of certain leaders at the federal level,” said the source.

However, the planners of this plot have a major concern – the whole exercise would be futile if the federal government is still the same.

“This is the one thing which concerns us. If changes in political partnership happen only in Malacca, and the federal government is still the same, then this will be a stupid move.

“Malacca is economically dependent on the federal government and if this goes through, then the state can no longer expect aid from the government,” said the source.

In another development, Bersatu’s supreme council member from Malacca, Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen came down hard on DAP, saying Selangor DAP secretary Ronnie Liu is not the only DAP leader to have criticised Dr Mahathir and Bersatu.

“There are many other DAP leaders who continue to openly attack Bersatu and Dr Mahathir, including by issuing statements that hurt the Malays and Muslims.

“Personally, I think Bersatu must reconsider its political partnership with DAP,” he said in a statement. – October 25, 2019.