KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) presidential council has decided against fielding former Pengkalan Batu assemblyman Datuk Norhizam Hassan Baktee in the upcoming Melaka state election.
The council has also decided not to nominate the three other former assemblymen who recently revoked their support for the state administration, which led to the collapse of the Melaka government earlier this month.
This came amid rumours of tension between PH component parties on whether to allow the four assemblymen to contest under a PH ticket.
"Regarding the four former assemblymen, PH accepts the views of all quarters. It is important to note that the interests of the people are far more important than any individual's.
"Since they are not members of any PH component party, the issue over their nominations was not discussed in today's meeting.
"However, the presidential council has also decided against fielding Norhizam as a PH candidate in the Melaka state election," the council said in a statement today.
The statement was jointly issued by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
They said state PH chairman Adly Zahari would be leading PH's election machinery in the Melaka state election.
The council said it has also decided to send a representative to meet and discuss with the Election Commission (EC) on the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the state election.
"This is to convey PH's views and ensure that the principles of democracy are upheld, the right of political parties to meet voters is not affected, and the election process is fair to all parties, especially when Melaka is in Phase 4 of the National Recovery Plan."
On Oct 4, Norhizam together with former Melaka chief minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron, Datuk Nor Azman Hassan (BN-Pantai Kundor), and Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad (PN-Telok Mas) withdrew their support for the state government.
The next day, Speaker Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh announced that the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka Tun Mohd Ali Rustam had consented to dissolving the state assembly.
The EC has set Nov 20 as the polling day for the Melaka state election. Nomination day will fall on Nov 8 while early voting will commence on Nov 16.