He said it was Melaka Umno chief Ab Rauf Yusoh, the man who made the allegation, who wanted the post.

On Wednesday, Rauf said Idris had been “played out” by DAP in his pursuit of the chief minister’s position.

According to Rauf, Idris had engaged Pakatan Harapan leaders but DAP’s top leadership did not agree to have him as chief minister again.

Idris, the Sungai Udang incumbent, told FMT he took part in toppling the government because the state was being run badly. “I did not topple the state government to become CM again,” he said.

He alleged that it was his former ally who had always wanted to be chief minister.

“By convention, the opposition leader would be the CM in the event of a change in government. When Pakatan Harapan was the government, I was the opposition leader.

“So, naturally, as the opposition leader, I should have been the CM when PH collapsed,” he said.

He said Rauf blocked his appointment as chief minister and also sidelined other senior Umno leaders in the state.

He alleged that Rauf backed Lendu assemblyman Sulaiman Md Ali for the post because Sulaiman would listen to him. “Rauf was the de facto CM,” he added.