Sulaiman Md Ali

Summary

Datuk Seri Sulaiman bin Md Ali is an UMNO politician who has served as the Lendu state assemblyman in Melaka since 2013 and held the position of Chief Minister of Melaka across two separate terms between March 2020 and March 2023. His tenure was marked by a 2021 internal confidence crisis that dissolved the state assembly and triggered a snap election, which he won with an increased majority, before resigning as Chief Minister in March 2023 citing health reasons. He remains the sitting assemblyman for Lendu.

Biography

Datuk Seri Sulaiman bin Md Ali (born 20 December 1966, per Wikipedia; Bernama and Malay Mail cite 1965 — date of birth is disputed across sources) is a Malaysian politician from UMNO who has represented the Lendu state constituency in Melaka's State Legislative Assembly since May 2013 [1]. He received his primary education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Durian Daun and secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Masjid Tanah, before undertaking cadet training at the Malaysian Maritime Academy (ALAM) and completing a Professional Masters in Management from the United Kingdom [2]. He is a member and State Secretary of Melaka UMNO, and serves as Division Deputy Chief of the Masjid Tanah UMNO division [1]. First elected to the Lendu seat in GE13 (2013) with a majority of 2,503 votes, he retained it in GE14 (2018) by a reduced majority of 627 votes [2]. He was appointed as the 12th Chief Minister of Melaka on 9 March 2020, following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan state government [2]. After an internal confidence crisis triggered the dissolution of the state assembly in October 2021, he contested and retained the Lendu seat in the ensuing snap election on 20 November 2021 with a majority of 3,104 votes, and was subsequently sworn in for a second term as Chief Minister [2]. He resigned as Chief Minister on 29 March 2023, citing personal health reasons, and was succeeded by Ab Rauf Yusoh on 31 March 2023 [2]. He remains the sitting state assemblyman for Lendu. He is married to Datin Munira M. Yusop and has three children [1].

Known for

Sulaiman Md Ali is defined politically by his two tenures as Chief Minister of Melaka (March 2020 to March 2023), making him notable as one of the few Melaka chief ministers to hold the position twice. His first term began following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan state government, and his second followed a snap election triggered by an internal confidence crisis within his own coalition. He has been the UMNO assemblyman for Lendu since 2013 and continues to hold the seat following his resignation from the chief ministership.

Political positions

During his tenure as Chief Minister, Sulaiman publicly emphasised multiracial governance, stating that he had directly engaged with minority communities including Chinese, Indian, and Portuguese communities in Melaka and had personally visited non-Muslim places of worship [3]. He framed his administration's priorities around state development and economic stability, resisting what he described as baseless political rumours. On his resignation, he stated he was not pressured by any party and cited health reasons, expressing his intent to focus on his Lendu constituency [2]. No publicly documented positions on specific national policy issues (e.g. education, housing, healthcare) were sourced from the allowlist for this profile.

Education

1. Early yearsAttended Sekolah Kebangsaan Durian Daun for primary education and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Masjid Tanah for secondary education.⛓
2. Post-secondaryUnderwent cadet training at the Malaysian Maritime Academy (ALAM) and completed a Professional Masters in Management (Quality Assurance Commission) from the United Kingdom.⛓

Political career

1. May 2013First elected as Lendu state assemblyman in GE13, defeating PAS candidate Asri Shaik Abdul Aziz by a majority of 2,503 votes.⛓
2. 2013–2018Served as State Economic Planning, Investment and Industry Committee Deputy Chairman under Chief Minister Idris Haron's BN state administration.⛓
3. May 2018Retained the Lendu seat in GE14 by a majority of 627 votes against PKR's Ridhuan Dion Bakar and PAS's Arshad Md Som.⛓
4. 9 March 2020Sworn in as the 12th Chief Minister of Melaka, replacing Adly Zahari after the Pakatan Harapan state government lost majority support.⛓
5. 4 October 2021Four state assemblymen — including former Chief Minister Idris Haron and one other BN MLA — withdrew support for Sulaiman as Chief Minister, leading to the dissolution of the Melaka State Legislative Assembly.⛓
6. 20 November 2021Retained the Lendu seat in the 2021 Melaka snap state election with a majority of 3,104 votes (4,486 votes to PN's 1,382 and PH's 1,155). BN won 21 of 28 state seats.⛓
7. 21 November 2021Sworn in for a second term as Chief Minister of Melaka before Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Mohd Ali Rustam, following BN's landslide victory in the snap state election.⛓
8. 29–31 March 2023Tendered his resignation as Chief Minister to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Melaka on 29 March 2023, citing health reasons and a personal decision. Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid confirmed the resignation. Ab Rauf Yusoh was sworn in as his successor on 31 March 2023.⛓

Election history

• 2021LenduWon⛓
• 2018LenduWon⛓
• 2013LenduWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentDeputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed Sulaiman's resignation and moved to appoint a successor, reflecting that BN's central leadership accepted his departure without public objection.⛓
• OppositionFour state assemblymen — led by former Chief Minister Idris Haron — withdrew confidence in Sulaiman in October 2021, alleging, according to Malaysiakini, that Sulaiman was overly reliant on Melaka UMNO chief Ab Rauf Yusoh and that Ab Rauf was effectively controlling the state government.⛓
• PublicMalay Mail reported that some Lendu residents expressed ambivalence ahead of the 2021 snap election, acknowledging Sulaiman's service record while questioning his ability to prevent future political instability.⛓
• VerifiedFactsSulaiman has won the Lendu state seat in three consecutive elections (2013, 2018, 2021). He served as Chief Minister across two separate appointments (2020 and 2021–2023) and resigned in March 2023 citing health reasons. He remains the sitting Lendu assemblyman.⛓