• Updated with comments from Bersatu's Noor Effandi Ahmad.

Malacca BN has retracted its cooperation with two Bersatu assemblypersons Mohd Rafiq Naizamohidee (Paya Rumput) and Noor Effandi Ahmad (Teluk Mas).

However, they still have 15 assemblypersons on their side thanks to the support of Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) and Muhammad Jailani Khamis (Rembia) who defected from DAP and PKR respectively.

This is enough to form the state government with a simple majority.

Speaking at a press conference today, Malacca BN chief Abdul Rauf Yusoh (above, centre) said they had invited Rafiq and Noor Effandi to meet and discuss their new cooperation after Bersatu pulled out from Pakatan Harapan last week.

However, Rauf said they have, up until today, failed to meet with both Bersatu representatives.

"This has caused Malacca BN to lose their confidence in pursuing this cooperation," he said.

Rauf added that Malacca BN together with Norhizam and Jailani will be forming a new coalition supported by statutory declarations, which they will present to the governor.

He said this would not affect the spirit of Perikatan Nasional (PN) at the federal level.

Asked whether PN federal leaders were aware of their decision, Rauf said it was done at the state level due to their dissatisfaction with the two Bersatu representatives.

On Tuesday, former chief minister Adly Zahari (above) said he was informed by Malacca Governor Mohd Khalil Yaakob that his service had been terminated after losing majority support in the state assembly. 

Adly also said he had proposed for the state assembly to be dissolved, but his request was rejected by the governor.

When contacted, Noor Effandi claimed to have been blindsided by Rauf's announcement.

"I don't understand why Rauf rejected us, I didn't even know about the press conference today," he told Malaysiakini.

Noor Effandi said he had not been invited to any discussions.

He added that to his knowledge, the announcement on Monday that BN and Bersatu together with Norhizam and Jailani would be forming the new state government, still stands.

He also said the matter of who would be the chief minister was to be decided between Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Zahid had submitted BN's candidate for the chief minister position to the governor yesterday.

Additional reporting by ZIKRI KAMARULZAMAN