SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan Umno chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias (pic) has rubbished talk that four of the party's assemblymen will make a U-turn and back the state Pakatan Harapan government.
Jalaluddin, a senior state exco member in the previous administration, said he had yet to get any instruction from party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on the matter.
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"When the 14 of us made a decision to declare a loss of confidence in Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun’s leadership on Monday, it was made en bloc.
"So, this talk of four Umno assemblymen going back on their word is not true," he said.
Since late Tuesday (April 28), there has been speculation that four Umno assemblymen may cross the floor to back Aminudidin’s government to ensure it secures a majority in the state legislative assembly.
If this happens, Aminuddin will have the support of 21 of 36 assemblymen.
The four are likely to fill the vacancies in the state executive council line-up previously held by Umno.
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Among those mentioned are Lenggeng representative Datuk Mohd Asna Mohd Amin who, until Monday (April 27), was deputy speaker of the assembly.
When contacted, Asna refused to comment on the speculation.
However, the first-term assemblyman said he would abide by any directive from Ahmad Zahid.
"As a party man, I will take my orders from the president," he said.
Two of the other three Umno assemblymen said to be throwing their support behind Aminuddin are Datuk Mohd Zaidy Abdul Kadir (Jeram Padang) and Muhammad Sufian Maradzi (Seri Menanti).
Sufian denied the speculation but said he would abide by the party's decision, while Zaidy could not be reached for comment.
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On Monday, the state Barisan Nasional withdrew support for Aminuddin's government.
Jalaluddin said all 14 Umno assemblymen 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.
