PETALING JAYA: The Negri Sembilan royal and administration crises have the potential to carry wider institutional and political implications if not carefully contained, says a political analyst.
Socio-political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the situation has become more than a political dispute.
Rather, it has led to a crisis involving political legitimacy, tension between traditional adat (customs) structures and state administration, as well as grassroots sentiment, he said.
“Umno’s core struggle has always been defending the Malay institutions, including cultural adat systems. It is expected for everyone to respect the institutions.
“In the context of Negri Sembilan, the Undang institution is not merely symbolic, but forms a key pillar of the traditional political structure, playing a role in the selection of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan,” he said.
Political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said that after a very public spat, the Negri Sembilan Undang, palace-linked institutions and state authorities are expected to engage quietly and privately, to ease tensions over the royal crisis.
He predicted that Umno would want to keep the pressure on publicly and would claim victory if concessions were made.
“Both sides have incentive to contain this before it mutates into a full Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Harapan rupture narrative.
“If the Mentri Besar recalibrates early, it stays a contained dispute. If not, it becomes a rallying point for Umno to carry into a wider negotiation, even towards the 16th General Election positioning,” he added.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi hoped the 14 Barisan assemblymen will remain firm in their decision to withdraw support for Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
“The move is justified as it is to prevent the state from being drawn into a prolonged political conflict.
“If the decision is reversed, it will damage Umno’s integrity. The party must be seen as firm, principled, respectful of adat, constitutionally guided, democratic and focused on stability,” said Puad.
The administrative crisis was triggered when Barisan assemblymen unanimously declared a loss of confidence and withdrew their support for the Mentri Besar.
Aminuddin, however, was given the mandate to continue leading the state after receiving the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
There are 36 seats in the Negri Sembilan state assembly – 17 seats held by Pakatan, Barisan (14) while Perikatan Nasional has five seats.
