The former Melaka exco member said he was puzzled as to how the letter, in response to a show cause letter for attending a Perikatan Nasional event two weeks ago, had been spread to the media less than 24 hours after it was submitted yesterday.

“My officer sent the letter at about 1pm yesterday and they confirmed receiving it, but the media published reports (on the letter’s contents) in less than a day,” he told FMT.

Nonetheless, the former PKR man confirmed the contents of the letter, particularly on asking Umno to sack him, and his explanation on attending PN’s unveiling of its candidate for the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections.

Jailani is one of the two former Melaka exco members who had served under the previous chief minister, Sulaiman Ali, but were not reappointed when Ab Rauf Yusoh took over the top post in March.

He had criticised Rauf’s appointment and said he did not support him as the chief minister.

In March 2020, Jailani was among four former Pakatan Harapan assemblymen in Melaka who helped topple the Adly Zahari-led state government, as PN and Barisan Nasional formed the state administration.

He was sacked by PKR in April 2020 and joined Umno in January 2021.