KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Melaka Opposition Leader Dr Mohd Yadzil Yaakub today reportedly rejected the Melaka chief minister's invitation to form a unity government there with no opposition.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) Bemban state assemblyman reportedly said he and Sungai Udang counterpart Dr Mohd Aleef Yusof would stay in the Opposition bloc to serve as a check and balance to the Melaka government.
“We will continue to stick with the principle of being an authoritative Opposition that is a check and balance to the Melaka government.
“It's not about how we're going to fight but don't be afraid of the Opposition, that's just the two left,” he was quoted saying by Malaysia Gazette.
Dr Yadzil also said he would not defect despite allegedly being offered a spot in the state government.
“I was elected by the people representing PN. If I jump the party just to get a good job, sitting in a government bloc that doesn't align with the direction of the party, I don't think that's my principle.
“It is better to stay this way because as a healthy government formation, there needs to be opposition, just like at the level of the central government," he reportedly said.
Yesterday, Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh reportedly expressed hope that two assemblymen from PN would join the state coalition government that also included Pakatan Harapan representatives before the anti-party hopping Bill tabled at the State Legislative Assembly sitting in July.
Ab Rauf, who is also the state Umno chief, said if the two assemblymen agree to join, Melaka would go down in history as the first state with zero opposition.
Thus far, only seven states have enforced the anti-hopping law after it was passed in the Dewan Rakyat: Selangor, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Sarawak.
