MELAKA: Melaka’s seventh Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam continues his work for the state and is respected by the people here for his dedication in seeing to the development of the historical city.
“Tun (Dr Mohd Ali) has not slowed down one bit. Credit goes to him for shaping Melaka into a top tourist destination over the years.
“One good example was transforming the dirty Sungai Melaka into a tourist attraction,” said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali when congratulating Mohd Ali in conjunction with his 72nd birthday yesterday.
Sulaiman said Mohd Ali was a modest leader who mingled easily with people from all spheres while emphasising multiracial harmony.
“He treats everyone as the same. People from different walks of life continue to make a beeline to see him, just like what they used to do when he was the chief minister from 1999 to 2013. This reflects the trust the people have for the Yang di-Pertua Negeri,” he added.
Sulaiman said Mohd Ali also continued to champion quality education and healthcare, adding the Melaka Governor could be vocal in defending the rights of the people in the state.
“In a nutshell, Tun understands the issues faced by the rakyat and is willing to help the state government make Melaka a better place to live,” he said.
Mohd Ali, 72, created history in June 2020 when he was the first Melakan to be appointed as a Yang di-Pertua Negeri since the nation gained independence in 1957.
Melaka’s first Yang di-Pertua Negeri was Tun Leong Yew Koh (Aug 31, 1957, to Aug 30, 1959, from Sungai Siput, Perak); Tun Abdul Malek Yusuf (Aug 31, 1959, to Aug 30, 1971, from Kg Chengkau, Negri Sembilan); Tun Abdul Aziz Abdul Majid (Aug 31, 1971, to May 9, 1975, from Hulu Langat, Selangor); Tun Syed Zahiruddin Syed Hassan (May 23, 1975 to Nov 30, 1984, from Tanjung Kerian, Perak); Tun Syed Ahmad Syed Mahmud Shahabudin (Dec 4, 1984, to June 3, 2004, from Kulim, Kedah) and Tun Dr Mohd Khalil Yaakob (June 4, 2004, to June 4, 2020, from Kuantan, Pahang).