KUALA LUMPUR: Negri Sembilan Umno will accept whoever is chosen by the party’s top leadership as the next Mentri Besar, with state chairman Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias signalling that guidance from the central leadership is expected soon on the matter.
He said the decision on the Mentri Besar rests with the highest leadership within the Barisan Nasional-Pakatan Harapan government framework, not at the state Umno level.
“That is not for us to decide. The choice of Mentri Besar will be determined by the top leadership between Barisan and Pakatan. We will wait for that decision.
“God willing, there will be guidance from the party leadership soon, and we will see what unfolds next,” he told the media when met at Umno’s 80th Convention here on Saturday (May 2).
Jalaluddin stressed that Umno Negri Sembilan would respect any outcome reached by the coalition leadership, regardless of the candidate.
“We will wait for the decision made by the leadership. Whoever is chosen is not the issue,” he said when pressed further on whether the state leadership would accept a new candidate from Pakatan or PKR.
He urged the party to act decisively, describing the current situation as an “extraordinary crisis” that must not be allowed to escalate further.
“This is not about politics, power or individuals. It is about the fundamental duties of a Mentri Besar.
“We cannot allow this crisis to escalate into a wider adat (customary) crisis in Negri Sembilan,” he said.
He warned that prolonged public debate on the issue could lead to confusion and misperceptions, particularly among younger generations, potentially undermining the reputation of the state’s adat institutions.
“When discussions are carried out openly across various platforms, different interpretations will emerge.
“Some understand adat, others do not. This will create negative perceptions and affect the understanding of our youth, ultimately damaging the reputation of the adat institution,” he said.
Jalaluddin also reiterated that 14 Umno assemblymen had withdrawn their support and confidence in the Menteri Besar on April 27, citing governance concerns.
“The Mentri Besar continues to administer the state (although) we have withdrawn our support, which means we have lost trust (in him),” he said.
He added that the move was not driven by political interests or attempts to seize power, but rather by concerns over governance and the management of adat and royal institutions.
“This is not about ‘tebuk atap’ (backdoor manoeuvres). It is about governance and the management of the adat and royal institutions,” he said.
Jalaluddin said the Mentri Besar had lost the confidence of the state’s four Undang, which he described as critical to ensuring stability and preserving the state’s reputation.
He also warned that the crisis, including issues surrounding the dismissal of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, could disrupt political stability and governance if left unresolved.
“Umno must act because this has reached a stage where it can affect the reputation of the government and disrupt stability, particularly in matters involving adat and political affairs in Negri Sembilan,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, Jalaluddin said Negri Sembilan Umno was prepared to take a firm stance, including becoming part of the opposition within the state government until the next general election, if necessary.
“We have made our position clear. We have lost confidence. There will be no change in that stance,” he said.
