{
  "id": 18850355,
  "title": "PH withdrawal from state govt was unexpected, says Rauf",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/ph-withdrawal-from-state-govt-was-unexpected-says-rauf",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-08T02:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/11/08/ph-withdrawal-from-state-govt-was-unexpected-says-rauf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Melaka chief minister Ab Rauf Yusoh expressed surprise at the Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) withdrawal from the Barisan Nasional-led state government in July 2023. Rauf, who took office as chief minister in March 2023, had initially granted PH representatives the chance to join the state administration. \"All government policies were formulated fairly, without political bias,\" Rauf stated to FMT. However, he admitted that PH's decision to resign from the Cabinet was unexpected. Despite the departure of five PH assemblymen — Adly Zahari, Allex Seah, Kerk Chee Yee, Low Chee Leong, and Leng Chau Yen — Rauf affirmed that his administration could continue serving the people. The five PH assemblymen withdrew on July 16 following a constitutional amendment that permitted up to seven unelected assemblymen. Seah resigned as executive councillor for entrepreneur development, cooperatives, and consumer affairs, while Kerk stepped down as deputy speaker. Low and Leng also resigned as deputy executive councillors. When questioned about his achievements as chief minister, Rauf emphasized that success should be evaluated by the effective resolution of citizens' concerns. He detailed how the state government identified residents' problems through complaints collected by the state's constituency development and coordination committee, which were then verified by village heads and district offices before action was taken by assemblymen and executive councillors. Some of the issues addressed included unpaved village roads, lack of street lighting, and the provision of adult diapers and milk for bedridden patients. Rauf also highlighted the administration's support for schools, agricultural activities, and the needs of fishermen and small-scale livestock farmers, asserting that resolving people's problems was the greatest satisfaction for him.",
  "summary": "The Melaka chief minister says the withdrawal on July 16 did not affect his administration’s ability to continue serving the people.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}