THE Umno Supreme Council has not yet come to a decision on the Malacca elections, said Ab Rauf Yusoh.

The Malacca Umno liaison chief said the party’s Supreme Council will meet again to decide on the matter.

He did not say when the meeting will take place.

“No decision yet. We will have a meeting again,” he briefly told reporters while exiting Umno headquarters tonight after the Supreme Council meeting.

It was called to discuss the party’s position on the Malacca elections.

The Malacca government collapsed when four assemblymen withdrew support for chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali, leaving him without a majority in the 28-seat state legislative assembly.

The four are Idris Haron (Sg Udang), Noor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundur), Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas), and Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu).

Subsequently, Idris, a former chief minister, and Noor Azman were sacked by Umno for going against the party.

Bersatu has also given Noor Effandi the boot. Norhizam, formerly from DAP, is an independent.

State elections must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the state assembly.

When asked about an audio recording purportedly of a chat between Umno’s former Rembia assemblyman Muhammad Jailani Khamis and independent Pengkalan Batu representative Norhizam Hassan Baktee, in which Rauf’s name was mentioned, the former state speaker denied being part of any discussion involving the offer of millions of ringgit to support the Umno-led state government.

“In politics, anybody can mention anybody’s name. It has nothing to do with me,” he said.

Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan also said no decision was made on the state elections.

However, he said the party has ordered its election machinery at every level to make thorough preparations for the Malacca elections.

On political cooperation with PAS and Bersatu, the Pontian MP said it would be discussed at the next meeting.  – October 14, 2021.