It looks like their political future is in limbo given that three of them have been booted out of Umno and Bersatu. The fourth is an independent. Also, there is no assurance that they can contest in the next general election under Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said their withdrawal from the government looked like political suicide for now, but he told FMT they might not be in the political wilderness for long given the fluid nature of political alliances, especially after the last general election.

“Political permutations and configurations are constantly developing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a figure like ex-chief minister Idris Haron joins PH via PKR or Amanah,” he said. “After all, Melaka Umno chief Abdul Rauf Yusof admitted to having attempted to strike a last minute deal with DAP in order to salvage the Umno-led state government.”

The Melaka government was dissolved after Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor) and Idris Haron (Sungai Udang), formerly of Umno, independant Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) and ex-Bersatu man Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas) retracted their support.

Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said it might not be wise for any of them to contest should an election be held in the near future given that many would blame them for possibly triggering an election amid the ongoing pandemic.

“They should sit out this round and perhaps try their luck again in future elections as negative memories of their momentous deed fade.”

He said he could not foresee any party displaying interest in taking them in for now, but added that this might change in a few years.

“Voters have a short memory,” he said.