Pengkalan Batu assemblyman Norhizam Hassan Baktee said that former chief minister Idris Haron – who has since been sacked by Umno – had suggested for the elected representatives to take the matter up with the King, Berita Harian reported.

“We will take a bus to the Istana. This has been agreed upon by everyone,” the Malay daily quoted him as saying.

Norhizam said it was unreasonable for the state assembly to be dissolved as the 15 assemblymen had not heard from Melaka governor Mohd Ali Rustam.

He also claimed the decision reeked of double standards as the opposition had already formed the majority.

“The dissolution of the state assembly was done hastily and went against what was done by the King.

“The King met with the health ministry, attorney-general and election commission before making a decision,” he said, referring to the political turmoil surrounding the resignation of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin in early August and the appointment of new Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Norhizam went on to say that the situation in Melaka could not be compared to the one in Sarawak as the government in the East Malaysian state still commanded the majority, unlike the administration in Melaka.

“It is unfair to appoint the state administration that has just collapsed as the caretaker government while waiting for the state election to be held, or even before an emergency is declared.

Meanwhile, Norhizam told Malaysiakini that all 15 of them agreed to complain to the King after requests to meet with Ali, a former Melaka chief minister, fell on deaf ears.

Yesterday, Ali dissolved the Melaka state assembly following an announcement that four state assemblymen had retracted support for chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali.

Along with Idris, who is the Sungai Udang assemblyman, and Norhizam, Bersatu’s Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas) and Umno’s Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor) had also retracted their support for the state government.