MELAKA: The needs of the Chinese and Indian communities were well taken care of under the Barisan Nasional/Perikatan Nasional state government, says caretaker chief minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali (pic).

       He said two secretaries were appointed by him to attend to any problem and to oversee the welfare of all the communities, including the Portuguese, in the state.

       “I also didn’t demand the iconic Jonker Walk be closed down since coming into office, or invite controversial preachers to hurt the feelings of the minorities here.

       “Please check with the leaders of minority communities in the state whether I have visited them personally or entered non-Muslims’ places of worship as a chief minister,” he said when asked to comment on a recent viral conversation allegedly between former chief minister and Sungai Udang assemblyman Datuk Seri Idris Haron and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.During the conversation, the voice purported to be that of Idris, who has since been sacked from Umno for his role in the revolt that saw the dissolution of the state government, claimed that the previous Barisan-Perikatan coalition had ignored the needs of the Chinese and Indian communities in Melaka.Idris has denied that it was him in the voice message.

       Sulaiman said he was unfazed by the allegations, adding that much assistance had been rendered to all segments of society when he helmed the state government.

       “It was a challenging period when I took over as chief minister in March last year as the impact of Covid-19 was at its height.

       “We still managed to resolve whatever issues raised by all segments of society,” he said.

       Sulaiman challenged those who made the allegations to back up their claims with evidence.

       He said checks could also be made with local businessmen who had requested extended help and got it during the previous movement control order.

       “I have done my best to serve all the communities in the state and I still continue to do so,” he added.

       The caretaker chief minister’s community affairs secretary Yong Fun Juan defended Sulaiman, saying that he was among the few Melaka chief ministers to have visited various Taoist and Buddhist temples, including the Yong Chuan Tian Temple at Bandar Hilir here to get an insight into the Wangkang festival in November last year.

       He added that the business community could also attest to the help given to them by the chief minister.

       A day after the political impasse led to the dissolution of the Melaka state assembly last week, Idris said the main factor that drove him to go ahead with the move to withdraw his support for Sulaiman was that he felt that the needs of local folk had not been taken care of.

       With the dissolution, Melaka was required to have polls within 60 days, but the Federal Government said it will seek the views of the National Security Council, Election Commission and Health Ministry before deciding if a state election can be held with the country’s war against Covid-19 expected to transition into an endemic state at the end of this month.