TWO Malacca Barisan Nasional (BN) executive councillors will be dropped to make way for Pakatan Harapan assemblymen, according to a report in Mingguan Malaysia.

The weekend edition of Malay-language newspaper Utusan Malaysia said the move was keeping with the plan to form a unity government, in line with that of federal government.

The paper reported that Muhammad Jailani Khamis (Rembia) and Zaidi Attan (Serkam) are the two Umno assemblymen to face the axe, as Chief Minister Ab Rauf Yusoh takes over the state government.

Zaida’s portfolio was housing, local government and environment, while Jailani was in charge of tourism, heritage and culture.

Jailani had been critical of Ab Rauf’s appointment, while Zaidi lost his position as a division chief in the recent party elections.

Meanwhile, the paper did not name who from Pakatan Harapan would fill the roles.

Yesterday, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the new exco line-up needed to reflect the composition of the unity government.

“Even though BN and Umno control the Malacca government, it would be good if the exco reflects togetherness and power-sharing,” he told reporters at a function in his Bagan Datuk constituency.

Zahid also said political stability in Malacca will help the government win the upcoming state elections.

Tanjung Bidara assemblyman Ab Rauf was sworn in as the 13th Malacca chief minister on Friday after incumbent Sulaiman Md Ali resigned.

Ab Rauf, 62, is also the Malacca Umno and state Barisan Nasional chief. – April 2, 2023.