KUALA LUMPUR: Umno will not support Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun as long as he attempts to meddle in the state's customary laws, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Umno president said that matters related to the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Undang should be respected and resolved between them.
“We do not reject him (Aminuddin), but do not support him as long as he gets involved in the state’s customary laws.
“This is not only the view of Umno Negri Sembilan, but ours as well,” he told reporters after an event here on Thursday (May 7).
However, Ahmad Zahid said there were no proposals to change the Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar.
On a separate matter, Ahmad Zahid said he was also aware of the Pakatan Harapan ceramah in Negri Sembilan on Wednesday (May 6) evening.
“It’s not a matter of being invited or not.
“They also notified me of this, and I was informed that the targeted crowd was among their component party members.
“I also appreciate the leadership of Pakatan component parties at both the federal and state levels.
“However, I do understand the feelings at the grassroots level, as they may not have a clear picture of the stance taken by Umno and Barisan Nasional,” he said.
On Wednesday, Negri Sembilan Umno said that while it would heed the advice of the Umno-Pakatan Harapan leadership to continue supporting the state unity government, it stands by its earlier declaration that it had lost confidence in Mentri Besar Aminuddin.
The turmoil in Negri Sembilan began when the Undang of Sungei Ujong, Datuk Mubarak Dohak, read a declaration removing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Negri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar on grounds of misconduct.
The declaration was also signed by the three other ruling chiefs – Jelebu Undang Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad, Johol Undang Datuk Muhammed Abdullah and Rembau Undang Datuk Abdul Rahim Yasin.
The four unanimously named the Tunku Panglima of Negri Sembilan, Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar, as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
On April 20, Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Aminuddin said the state government refused to accept or recognise the declaration, as Mubarak no longer had the authority after being removed as Sungei Ujong Undang on May 13 last year.
Mubarak's removal, he claimed, was due to 33 offences related to traditions and customary laws and was carried out in accordance with Article 14(3) of the Laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan.
The DKU, Aminuddin said, also agreed to advise and accept the recommendations of the Telaga Undang and Waris Klana Hulu Sg Ujong, who had agreed to remove Mubarak as Undang.
According to him, the DKU is the highest authority governing the four Undang, or chieftains, of Negri Sembilan.
The four Undang have since disputed this and said that Aminuddin was no longer fit to lead the state administration and should be replaced.
Following this, 14 Barisan Nasional assemblymen in the Negri Sembilan state assembly retracted their support for the state unity government.
On May 5, both the leadership councils of Umno and Pakatan Harapan unanimously agreed to maintain the unity government framework in Negri Sembilan.
