SEREMBAN: It was business as usual for the Negri Sembilan executive council which met Wednesday (April 29) morning for the first time since 14 Barisan Nasional assemblymen withdrew support for the Mentri Besar and his administration.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the meeting, which only needs a quorum of four to continue with proceedings, discussed among other matters the day-to-day running of the state government and the continuation of programmes for the people.
"I sought an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir in the morning before chairing the state exco meeting.
"Tuanku advised me to proceed with the day-to-day running of the state government and to ensure the programmes for the people continue without any problems," he told reporters after chairing the meeting at Wisma Negri.
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Aminuddin said the meeting did not discuss the vacant exco positions. However, he said these should be filled by next week.
Aminuddin said he had also advised the six exco members to help out in overseeing the responsibilities of their former colleagues.
"I have asked the serving excos to help out where they can, as we already have programmes lined up," he said, adding that the state government will soon host the national-level Youth Day celebration on May 15.
Aminuddin's Pakatan Harapan government is now left with 17 assemblymen in the 36 -seat state assembly after the 14 Umno reps withdrew support on Monday (April 27).
Umno took the drastic step saying it had lost confidence in Aminuddin's leadership in relation to the handling of the state royal crisis.
Following this, five Perikatan Nasional assemblymen said they were willing to work with Barisan to form a new government.
Barisan then issued a statement saying it had secured a simple majority to form the new state government.
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Asked how long his minority government wuld continue to run the state, Aminuddin said this depended on the Ruler and the provisions in the state constitution.
"For now I have been asked by the PM to serve till a suitable time or when a decision is finally made," he said.
Aminuddin said he would accept whatever decision is made by the Pakatan leadership.
"My future is out of my hands.
"My party president (PKR's Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has told me to continue for now and I will abide by any decision taken by the top leadership," he said.
On a demand by state Umno chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias for a special session to be called to gauge the Mentri Besar's support in the legislative assembly, Aminuddin said the Ruler has to first give consent.
"The exco would also need to discuss this before we can proceed," he said, adding that the matter also has to be referred to the central leadership.
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Asked if he was prepared to reconcile with the 14, Aminuddin said this also depended on party leaders.
"I take my instructions from my president. I will abide by whatever he says," he said.
Asked if any of the Umno assemblymen had been in touch with him, Aminuddin said he last tried calling them about an hour before they announced their decision on Monday.
"I was shocked when I heard they were withdrawing support.
"My officer and I tried calling them but all 14 were unreachable," he said, adding that there had been no news from them since.
Aminuddin also refused to comment if the action by the 14 was tantamount to stabbing him in the back or a strategy to form a backdoor government.
He admittedm however, that he had expected the Umno assemblymen to withdraw their support.
"I take this as a challenge to the state leadership.
"We must continue to run efficiently and not be hampered by the issues in the state," he said.
Asked if the state government would withdraw the allocations given to the 14 since they were now in the Opposition, Aminuddin said the matter has not been discussed.
"I believe they still have some allocations given to them earlier.
"We have not discussed if their allocations will be taken back," he said, adding that positions of local councillors and village heads from Umno were also not discussed.
Aminuddin also refused to take questions on the royal crisis between the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Undang.
"We are leaving this to those in authority to decide. The state government will remain neutral," he added.
