Speaking to reporters after an event in Bentong, Zahid said he has received Sulaiman’s resignation letter.

Sulaiman was sworn in as chief minister in November 2021, after Barisan Nasional won the Melaka state elections.

It is speculated that Melaka Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh is set to replace Sulaiman as chief minister.

However, Zahid refused to confirm that Rauf would be replacing Sulaiman.

According to Bernama, Zahid would be seeking an audience with governor Ali Rustam to propose a new candidate for the post.

Earlier, Rauf declined to comment that the state is set to have a new chief minister.

Rumours that Sulaiman would be replaced surfaced in November 2021, after the state election, when Rauf was accused of trying to lobby top party leaders for the chief minister’s post. He was also absent when Sulaiman was sworn in.

Rauf, an executive councillor in the Barisan Nasional-led state government, later denied talks of any turmoil in the newly formed state government, saying Sulaiman had the backing of all Umno division chiefs.

In December, Sulaiman denied speculation that he would be resigning from the post after a report said he would be stepping down on Jan 3 to make way for Rauf.

Rauf then claimed that certain quarters were trying to drive a wedge between him and Sulaiman by spreading malicious rumours about their relationship.

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