PETALING JAYA: The head of an election watchdog group and a political analyst have given the thumbs down to a call by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for a state election to be held in Melaka.
An election should be the last option during the Covid-19 pandemic, said Bersih 2.0 chairman Thomas Fann and political analyst Azmi Hassan.
Zahid had called for an election after four assemblymen said they did not support the state government led by chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali.
Fan said it was premature to declare that Sulaiman’s government had fallen, unless he fails a confidence vote or if the chief minister has tendered his resignation.
“Holding a snap election is an option but given that Undi18 and automatic voter registration have not been implemented, and Covid-19 remains a threat, it should be a last option,” he told FMT.
He said that if the chief minister had lost support, he or other candidates for the post could try to reach a confidence and supply arrangement with Pakatan Harapan.
Azmi said Zahid’s call showed that Umno was confident of its strength in Melaka.
However, holding a state election would be detrimental to Melaka while the pandemic is still not under control.
Yesterday, Sungai Udang assemblyman Idris Haron, from Umno, said Sulaiman’s government no longer enjoyed a majority.
“We know there are 11 assemblymen in the opposition who do not support the government, and with the four of us, it shows that the state government has lost its majority,” he said.
The Melaka state assembly has 28 seats. - FMT
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