Monday (Nov 16) will be a special state holiday in Melaka, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh announced on Sunday (Nov 15), after the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) pact won Saturday’s Melaka state election.
Ab Rauf said the holiday was to celebrate the coalition’s victory and to thank Melaka voters for giving it a fresh mandate to govern the state. It was also a way of thanking the people for carrying out their duty as voters, he said.
He made the announcement at a press conference at Seri Negeri in Ayer Keroh, shortly after he was sworn in for a second term as chief minister before the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Dr Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam.
Schools in the state will be closed on Monday. However, the SPM science practical test will go ahead as scheduled, and candidates and examination staff must report to their assigned examination centres. It was not immediately clear whether private-sector employers must also observe the Melaka holiday.
The BN-PN pact won 24 of the 28 seats in the state assembly, well above the 19 seats needed for a two-thirds majority. BN took 21 seats and PN three, while Pakatan Harapan won the remaining four. Turnout was 71.77%.
Asked when the new state executive council would be appointed, Ab Rauf did not give a date. He said the possibility of including PN representatives in the line-up was still being considered.
After the swearing-in, he said the state government would focus on strengthening Melaka’s economy, attracting domestic and foreign investment and speeding up strategic development projects for the well-being of the people.