KUALA LUMPUR (July 14): The Democratic Action Party (DAP) on Tuesday announced its withdrawal from the Melaka state government after the Barisan Nasional (BN)-led administration pushed through a controversial law that allows for the appointment of unelected individuals as state assemblymen.

Melaka DAP chairman Khoo Poay Tiong said the party could not support a move that fundamentally contradicts democratic principles.

“We rejected the motion tabled by the state government. Even our executive councillor voted against it. We therefore cannot remain in the state government, and the best course of action is for us to leave,” Khoo told The Edge.

Khoo said the party's sole state executive councilor Alex Seah, who oversees the entrepreneur development, cooperatives and consumer affairs portfolio, two deputy excos Low Chee Leong and Leng Chau Yen, as well as its Deputy Speaker Kerk Chee Yee will be resigning from their posts. 

DAP appointees serving on village development and security committees (JPKK) and as local councillors would also resign in due course, he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Melaka State Legislative Assembly passed the Melaka State Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026, paving the way for the state government to appoint up to seven additional assembly members.

The bill was passed by a show of hands in the 28-member assembly, with 23 assembly members voting in favour and five against.

The five who opposed the bill comprised four DAP assembly members and one from Amanah — Melaka Pakatan Harapan chairman Adly Zahari.

Meanwhile, all three Perikatan Nasional (PN) assembly members voted in support of the amendment.

BN currently holds 20 seats in the state assembly, followed by Pakatan Harapan with five seats nad PN with three.

PH joined the Melaka unity government in 2023, in line with the formation of the unity government at the federal level following the 2022 general election.

However, tensions between PH and BN have grown in recent months, particularly after the two coalitions contested against each other in the recently concluded Johor state election, where BN secured a landslide victory, sweeping up 48 of the state's 56 seats.

The current Melaka state assembly's term expires at the end of December. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said in June that the assembly could be dissolved within the next three months, paving the way for a state election.

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