The Melaka Historic City Council (MBMB) has clarified that it is still awaiting formal notification from its two Democratic Action Party-appointed councillors, despite the DAP's dramatic announcement this week that it was severing ties with the Melaka state government. Mayor Datuk Shadan Othman made the statement during the MBMB's 2026 Customer Day event, emphasising that in the absence of any official resignation letters or withdrawal notices, the two council members retain their positions and must continue fulfilling their responsibilities.
The mayor's remarks come in the wake of significant political turbulence in Melaka's state administration, triggered by the passage of the Melaka State Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2026 through the State Legislative Assembly. The controversial legislation paves the way for the appointment of seven unelected state assemblymen, a move that prompted the DAP to reconsider its political alignment with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh's administration.
During a press conference earlier this week, DAP Melaka chairman Khoo Poay Tiong announced the party's decision to withdraw support from the state government, a declaration made in the presence of four DAP state assemblymen representing Kesidang, Ayer Keroh, Kota Laksamana and Banda Hilir constituencies. The party had signalled its intention for all local authority councillors previously appointed by the state government to step down from their positions, a measure intended to underline the depth of the party's disagreement with the current administration's direction.
However, Datuk Shadan Othman made an important distinction between political posturing and formal administrative procedure. He noted that administrative processes must remain separate from political considerations, a principle that applies to the council's operations regardless of external political developments. The mayor stressed that any withdrawal or resignation must originate directly from the individual councillor concerned, not from third-party declarations or party announcements, no matter how publicly prominent those declarations might be.
This stance reflects a broader principle of local government administration in Malaysia, where appointed positions carry formal resignation procedures that cannot be circumvented through party-level announcements. The council appointments, once conferred, vest certain legal responsibilities and rights in the individuals who hold them, and the termination of those appointments must follow established protocols. The mayor's position suggests that the MBMB will not treat a party's political withdrawal as automatic grounds for removing its nominated representatives from the council roster.
The timing of the DAP's withdrawal is significant given the constitutional amendment's passage, which represents a substantial shift in Melaka's political architecture. The seven additional unelected assemblymen will substantially alter the balance of power within the state assembly, and this structural change appears to have triggered the DAP's reassessment of its participation in the governing coalition. The party evidently views the amendment as a fundamental change to the state's political framework, one that undermines the democratic mandate of elected representatives.
For Malaysian observers, this situation encapsulates the ongoing tension between party-level political decisions and the formal administrative structures through which local governments operate. While political parties can announce withdrawals of support and express their intentions regarding their appointed representatives, the actual dissolution of those appointments requires more than mere announcement. The distinction becomes particularly important in the context of local government, where continuity of administration and formal procedural adherence are essential to maintaining institutional credibility and functionality.
The two DAP councillors appointed to the MBMB now find themselves in a potentially awkward position, caught between their party's political stance and the formal administrative requirements of their positions. Should they wish to honour their party's withdrawal announcement, they would need to submit formal resignation letters to the council. Conversely, should they choose to remain in their positions, they would effectively be defying their party's directive, a decision that could carry serious political consequences for them within DAP structures. The MBMB's position as stated by the mayor makes clear that it will respect whichever choice the councillors ultimately make, provided it is communicated through proper channels.
This episode also highlights the broader complexities of Malaysia's coalition-based political system, where parties frequently participate in multi-party governments at both state and local levels. The ability of parties to withdraw support while their appointed representatives remain in position creates a form of ambiguity that can complicate governance. In this case, the two DAP councillors could theoretically continue voting on MBMB matters according to DAP direction even as the party maintains its withdrawal from the state government, creating a hybrid arrangement that is neither full participation nor complete withdrawal.
The situation may also carry implications for how local government appointments function more broadly in Malaysia. If parties can announce wholesale withdrawals without following formal resignation procedures, the stability of local government bodies could become vulnerable to political whims. Conversely, insisting on formal procedures ensures that appointed representatives cannot be summarily removed through party announcements alone, protecting individuals from being caught in party-level political manoeuvres. The MBMB's approach reflects this protective principle, even if it creates short-term political ambiguity.
Looking forward, the council's handling of this matter may set precedent for how other local authorities respond to similar situations, particularly in states where coalition politics create complex arrangements of appointed representatives. The mayor's emphasis on distinguishing political and administrative spheres suggests that the MBMB intends to maintain its institutional independence and procedural integrity regardless of shifting political alliances at higher levels of government. Whether the two DAP councillors will ultimately submit formal resignations or attempt to navigate the contradictions of remaining in position while their party withdraws support remains to be seen, but the MBMB has made clear it will respect formal procedures over political announcements.
