Melaka will get a new chief minister from Perikatan Nasional and his identity will be known before the swearing-in ceremony at Seri Negeri on Monday.

Melaka State UMNO liaison chairman, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, said the decision was made known to him after a meeting of 15 state assemblymen representing Perikatan Nasional with Melaka Governor, Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob, this afternoon.

"13 Barisan Nasional state assemblymen and two other assemblymen (one each from PKR and DAP) were invited to meet Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob to discuss the current situation in the state.

"Talks with Tun Mohd Khalil were more focused on the welfare of the state, especially its political stability," he said.

Ab Rauf said Tun Mohd Khalil has agreed to appoint one of the 15 state assemblymen representing Perikatan Nasional as the 12th chief minister of Melaka.

"On behalf of the assemblymen, I expressed my sincere thanks to His Excellency Tun for cleverly addressing the political turmoil of the Melaka state administration.

"We were informed that the candidate for the 12th chief minister of Melaka will be announced at 3.00 pm ahead of the swearing-in ceremony on March 9 (Monday),” he said in a press conference here today.

This puts an end to rumours that there was a tussle between Bersatu and UMNO for the chief minister’s post.

Perikatan Nasional had earlier announced a cooperation with two Bersatu state assemblymen, Datuk Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen and Datuk Noor Effandi Ahmad, has ended on March 5.

It had forced Perikatan Nasional to submit new statutory declarations (SD) from the 15 state assemblymen to Tun Mohd Khalil on Thursday.

It was also reported last Monday that former chief minister Adly Zahari had lost the majority support of the Melaka state assemblymen through a vote of no confidence.