Ab Rauf sworn in as Melaka CM

Tanjung Bidara assemblyman Ab Rauf Yusoh was sworn in as Melaka’s 13th chief minister today.

He took his oath of office before Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Mohd Ali Rustam at Seri Negeri in a private ceremony at 3.33pm with his predecessor, Sulaiman Md Ali, state assemblymen, MPs and heads of department present.

Sulaiman, who remains Lendu assemblyman, resigned yesterday, midway through his second term as chief minister.

He was first appointed on March 9, 2020 and then again on Nov 21, 2021.

Ab Rauf, a one-term assemblyman, won the Tanjung Bidara seat in a tight three-cornered contest, obtaining 3,599 votes against Perikatan Nasional’s Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (3,195 votes) and Pakatan Harapan’s Zainal Hassan (489 votes) in the last state election.

He was appointed state investment, industry, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman in Sulaiman’s second administration, having served as Melaka state assembly speaker during his first.

Ab Rauf, who has been Melaka Umno liaison committee chief since 2018, was reelected as an Umno Supreme Council member during the party’s election this year, and retained his Masjid Tanah division chief post unopposed.