SEREMBAN: The shocking move by 14 state Umno assemblymen to withdraw support for the Mentri Besar and his administration only means that Pakatan Harapan has to work harder to strengthen itself to better face the coming state polls and the 16th General Election.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said PKR, DAP and Amanah have to continue to work hard to get the support from the people to ensure it could stand alone if the need arises.
"What happened in Seremban on April 27, when the 14 withdrew support out of the blue, serves as a lesson to us.
"We should remain calm and prepare ourselves so we can emerge stronger," he said during a Pakatan Harapan ceramah perdana on Wednesday (May 6) night here.
Aminuddin said he was shocked by the move by the 14 as it was totally unexpected.
However, he said he is glad that things have settled down as his administration wants to work on ways to bring in more investments to the state.
"We cannot be bogged down by politics and instability under such circumstances.
"When we are stronger, we will be able to face anyone when the time for the election comes," he said.
Aminuddin said his state exco during its meeting earlier had agreed to lower the rent for local council-owned premises to help traders affected by the economic slowdown.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook, in his speech, concurred with Aminuddin that there were lessons to be learned from the recent political episode in the state.
"As far as the DAP is concerned, we remain loyal to the state royal institutions, including the Undang and Tunku Besar Tampin.
"But we have to work hard and continue serving the people so that we can face anyone when the time comes," he said.
Loke said Pakatan has to start working on strategies to win voters' hearts in the next state polls.
"Although the status quo in Negri Sembilan for now, we need to be prepared to face whatever situation.
"We have gone through many crises, such as in Perak in 2008 and the Sheraton Move in 2020, so we need to be calm and start preparing for any eventuality," he said.
Loke said the DAP would remain loyal to voters and reject any attempts to form a backdoor government.
State Amanah president Datuk MK Ibrahim Abd Rahman, in his speech, said the party was hugely disappointed by the move by the 14 Umno assemblymen.
"During the last state election, Amanah was to contest the Lenggeng seat but when Umno asked for it, we gave it to them.
"For the first time, I even campaigned for the Umno candidate and we won the seat," he said.
MK Ibrahim said when his name was proposed as state Speaker, Barisan also named a candidate for the same post.
"Again, I was disappointed, but thankfully, Pakatan Harapan got the post," he added.
