UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today confirmed he received the resignation letter from Malacca Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali last night.

Zahid said the letter was personally handed to him by Sulaiman at Parliament.

He said he would be seeking an audience with Malacca Yang di-Pertua Negeri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam to submit a candidate’s name to be the new chief minister.

He, however, refused to confirm if it would be Malacca Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh.

“We will wait for the announcement from the governor on that,” he said.

When asked if the change of state leadership was to allow for a unity government in Malacca, Zahid said that was possible.

“Yes, that can happen, but we will have to wait for further development when the new chief minister attends the state assembly meeting after Hari Raya Aidilfitri next month,” he said.

Earlier, it was speculated that Rauf will be taking up the chief minister’s post.

It has been speculated since the Malacca state elections in November that Rauf would be the new chief minister, replacing Sulaiman.

However, after the polls, Sulaiman returned to helm the state government.

On Monday, Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said Malacca may witness the formation of a unity government.

“InsyaAllah, in Malacca, a Madani (unity) government has not been formed… but it’s heading in that direction,” he said.

Zahid said this during a ceremony, which was also attended by Sulaiman and Rauf.

He said the change in the country’s political landscape would also be seen in the six states where elections are due soon, namely Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

In the Malacca elections, Barisan Nasional managed to obtain a two-thirds majority, winning 21 of the 28 seats in the state assembly. – March 29, 2023.