Melaka voters know how to assess Rauf administration’s performance, says Mahdzir

PANTAI PUTERI: Melaka voters can judge for themselves the performance of chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh and his administration over the past three years in the upcoming state election, says Kedah Umno chief Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

He said voters had the opportunity to assess Ab Rauf’s achievements and leadership, as well as how he had managed the state administration alongside Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives during that period.

“I think the people of Melaka had already made their decision five months ago. The people here actually know what they want to do when it comes to voting.

“This is related to a series of developments that took place over the past seven to eight months until now,” he told reporters after attending a programme to meet voters and traders with BN Pantai Kundor candidate Tuminah Kadi at Pantai Puteri yesterday.

Also present were former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Jamil Khir Baharom, and former Pantai Kundor assemblymen Ab Rahaman Ab Karim and Nor Azman Hassan.

Mahdzir said Melaka voters were best placed to assess the efforts and work carried out by the chief minister for the state, adding that they had every right to evaluate the performance of his administration.

The Umno Supreme Council member said political developments over the past seven to eight months would also influence voters’ decisions, while expressing confidence that many had already made up their minds about five months ago.

He added that access to information through social media had enabled the public to follow current political developments and form their own assessments.

On Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal for voters to give their mandate to a state government aligned with the federal administration, Mahdzir said the final decision rested with the electorate, as seen in Sabah, Johor and Negeri Sembilan previously.

He said BN was also hoping for voters’ support for the coalition and its strategic partner, Perikatan Nasional (PN), in the state election.

“In Melaka, everyone knows that BN has chosen PN as its strategic partner. Naturally, we are appealing to the public to vote for both BN and PN.

“We are also appealing to PN members and supporters to cast their votes for BN,” he said.