UMNO has nominated its Melaka chief Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh as the party’s Chief Minister (CM) candidate to succeed Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali who stepped down from his post yesterday (March 29).

UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he has conveyed the nomination to Melaka Governor Tun Mohd Ali Rustam via a warkah (letter) earlier today along with a request to accept the resignation of Lendau state assemblyman Sulaiman as Melaka’s CM.

“The party has proposed DS Ab Rauf Yusoh as the next Melaka CM. Full stop,” Zahid told a media conference at the Parliament. “We hope the spirit of unity government will be extended to Melaka.”

When asked about the reason behind Sulaiman’s resignation, Zahid said he was informed it was due to health reasons.

The ceremony to present the letter of appointment and taking oath of office, loyalty and secrecy for the 13th Melaka CM is scheduled to be held at 3pm tomorrow (March 31) at the Dewan Seri Utama of the Melaka Governor’s Office.

Earlier, The Star has reported that first-term Paya Rumput assemblyman Datuk Rais Yasin, 38, has joined the race to replace the 58-year-old Sulaiman who has been the 12th Melaka CM since March 2020

Recall that Rauf has defeated his one-time former protégé and former Deputy Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin with a slim margin for the hotly-contested Tanjung Bidara seat during the Melaka state polls on Nov 20, 2021.

Mas Ermieyati was Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) chief minister candidate. - March 30, 2023

https://focusmalaysia.my/umno-melaka-heavyweight-rauf-is-the-partys-choice-for-chief-minster/