The group wants the King to advise the Melaka governor to withdraw his decision to dissolve the state assembly.

The letter, which was shared on social media, was confirmed to be genuine by state Pakatan Harapan chairman Adly Zahari, one of the signatories.

Governor Mohd Ali Rustam dissolved the state assembly on Tuesday after the four assemblymen had withdrawn their support for Sulaiman, leaving his government with only 13 seats in the 28-seat assembly

The letter was sent on behalf of 15 assemblymen – 11 from Pakatan Harapan and the four rebels. The four are independent Pengkalan Batu assemblyman Norhizam Hassan Baktee, Umno’s Idris Haron (Sungai Udang) and Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor) and Bersatu’s Telok Mas assemblyman Noor Effandi Ahmad.

Idris, Nor Azman and Noor Effandi have since been sacked by their parties

The letter stated that under Article 8 2(b) of the Melaka state constitution, the governor had no discretion to agree to the advice by Sulaiman to dissolve the state assembly.

It added that the dissolution should be avoided because it would lead to state elections at a time when Melaka was still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It will threaten the lives of the rakyat and economy at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic is not yet fully under control,” the letter said.

The assemblymen said the governor should have first called the 28 incumbent assemblymen to confirm the loss of majority, and to confirm the support for Pakatan Harapan’s chief ministerial candidate.

The process should also not be rushed as the governor himself is in self-quarantine from Sept 30 until Oct 7, they said.

The letter also stated that the governor had the right to reject any advice by Sulaiman as he no longer commands the majority in the assembly.

According to the assemblymen, the governor can proclaim and withdraw his agreement for the dissolution.

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