PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says the political situation in Negri Sembilan remains unclear despite Umno’s readiness to become the opposition in the state.
The Pakatan Harapan chairman said Umno’s position had yet to be fully clarified.
“I do not wish to comment on such a statement because the matter is still unclear,” he told reporters at the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry’s monthly assembly here yesterday.
The Prime Minister was responding to questions on remarks by Negri Sembilan Umno indicating it was prepared to take up an opposition role rather than remain part of the state administration alongside Pakatan.
State Umno chairman Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias had said on Saturday that the state chapter was ready to adopt a firm stance, including joining the opposition until the next general election if necessary.
He reportedly said the move was to avoid being associated with alleged issues involving Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun linked to the state’s customary affairs and constitutional matters.
Anwar said he had also taken note of views expressed by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
He reiterated that the Federal Government remained committed to upholding the royal institution and ensuring political stability in the state, in line with royal guidance and constitutional processes.
In Seremban, the state Umno Youth has denied allegations that the party had dragged the state royal institution into a political discourse during its 80th anniversary celebration on Saturday.
It said the discourse was merely to explain the failure of the Mentri Besar to manage the state’s customary and constitutional crises.
In a statement, the state Umno Youth said the issue raised was related to the actions of Aminuddin which had created negative perceptions due to management weaknesses and non-compliance with the sensitivities of the state’s administrative structure.
It said any allegation that Umno was involved in a conspiracy of treason against the Ruler is slanderous and baseless.
The party, it said, would never support any effort that goes against the constitution to undermine the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
“Claims that the state Umno has dragged the state royal institution into political discourse during the recent party convention is inaccurate and misleading as we have remained consistent in defending the royal institution, Adat Perpatih, as well as the position of the state Ruler, the four Undang as well as Tunku Besar Tampin,” it said yesterday.
The state Umno Youth was responding to Sekretariat Taat Setia Sokongan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negri Sembilan chairman Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman Zaharudin, who criticised the state Umno for allegedly dragging the royal institution into political discourse during the party’s recent 80th anniversary celebration.
He said the move was “an unforgivable act of treason”.
Megat D. Shahriman gave Umno’s 14 assemblymen 48 hours to apologise to Tuanku Muhriz, failing which the group will seek legal advice on the matter.
However, the state Umno Youth described Megat D. Shahriman’s accusations as baseless and an attempt to divert the people’s attention from the real issue regarding the Mentri Besar’s shortcomings for violating customary (adat) traditions and failing to properly manage the state crisis.
“Any accusation of ‘derhaka’ (treason) labelled against Umno is a form of political manipulation that misleads the people and a distraction from the failure of the state administration to handle the political crisis.
“Reprimanding a mentri besar for his weaknesses and mistakes cannot be equated with disobedience to the royal institution, rather it is part of our party’s struggle and the agreement between the parties which agreed to form the unity government,” the statement said.
