SEREMBAN: While Negri Sembilan Umno says it will heed the advice of the Umno-Pakatan Harapan leadership to continue supporting the state unity government, it stands by its earlier declaration of having lost confidence in Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun’s leadership.
State Umno secretary Datuk Mustapha Nagoor said the decision to support the state administration aims to ensure political stability and prioritise the welfare of the people.
“Negri Sembilan Umno respects the decision of the leadership to maintain our cooperation in the state unity government, as decided by the party’s political bureau and the Umno-Pakatan Harapan leadership consultative council.
“All Barisan Nasional and Umno assemblymen will carry out their responsibilities as usual, continue to focus and intensify their services to the people, and ensure that their welfare is given due attention from time to time,” he said in a statement yesterday.
However, Mustapha reiterated that the 14 assemblymen had lost confidence in Aminuddin’s leadership over his handling of the royal crisis.
On April 27, 14 Umno assemblymen withdrew support for Aminuddin’s government, which also led to the resignation of Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, Datuk Ismail Lasim, Datuk Mustapha Nagoor and Datuk Mohd Faizal Ramli as state executive councillors.
On May 5, both Umno and Pakatan Harapan leadership unanimously agreed to maintain the unity government framework in the state.
In a separate development, Aminuddin said the four vacant state executive council posts will remain unfilled for now.
He said the state administration will continue functioning with the remaining six exco members, who will assume the responsibilities of those who resigned.
“I don’t see any problem with that,” he told reporters after chairing the exco meeting at Wisma Negri yesterday.
Asked if the four exco members would be reinstated, Aminuddin said it would be up to the party leadership.
He also said there had been no communication between him and the 14 assemblymen.
Asked when the state legislative assembly, which was postponed on April 27, would be held, Aminuddin said it would likely be at the end of this year.
“We have some Bills that we are in the midst of preparing, so it will take time.
“It will most likely be when we table the Budget later this year.”
When asked about an originating summons filed at the High Court by Datuk Seri Mubarak Dohak and three others to compel the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) to provide minutes of a special session linked to the removal of Mubarak as the Undang of Sungei Ujong, Aminuddin said the DKU would respond to the matter.
Meanwhile, government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the decision by the Umno-Pakatan Harapan leadership is for the 14 assemblymen to continue supporting the state unity government under Aminuddin’s leadership.
“The unity government in Negri Sembilan remains under the leadership of Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, and any issues that arise after this will be referred to the top leadership,” he said during his weekly briefing at Angkasapuri yesterday.
Fahmi also said the Cabinet was aware of the issues involving the administration of Negri Sembilan, which were handled accordingly.
