Mentri Besar believed to have met state Ruler twice in one day
SEREMBAN: Talk of snap polls in Negri Sembilan has gained significant traction following latest developments in the state and the dissolution of the Johor legislative assembly.
Earlier yesterday, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun presented a pre-exco meeting briefing on state developments to Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir during an almost two-hour audience at Istana Hinggap.
Aminuddin, who is serving his second term as Mentri Besar, was seen entering the palace at about 9am and left at 10.50am.
As he was leaving the palace, Aminuddin lowered his car window and waved at reporters waiting to get word about the possible dissolution.
“Normal Wednesday meeting,” he said, smiling as he left under police escort.
Also present at the meeting with the Ruler was state police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Alzafny Ahmad.
The Mentri Besar then went to Wisma Negri to chair the exco meeting, which ended at around 12.30pm.
At 12.47pm, Aminuddin’s press secretary Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Shah told reporters the Mentri Besar’s weekly media conference slated for 1.30pm was cancelled.
He explained that Aminuddin had to attend to “important and urgent” matters.
It was reliably learnt that he had returned to the palace for another audience with Tuanku Muhriz, though Aminuddin declined to speak to reporters when met at the lobby of his office upon his return.
The sudden cancellation of the press conference continued to fuel talk that the state government is preparing to dissolve the assembly to make way for the state election.
On Tuesday, Pakatan Harapan assemblymen and state party leaders had gathered for a special meeting at the Mentri Besar’s official residence following talk of the impending dissolution.
The last state polls were held on Aug 12, 2023.
Pakatan won 17 seats, followed by Barisan Nasional (14) and Perikatan Nasional (five).
Talk of snap polls began making its rounds at the end of April after all of Barisan’s assemblymen withdrew support for Aminuddin’s government.
They had claimed to have been left with no other option but to declare a loss of confidence as the Mentri Besar had failed to handle the state royal crisis.
However, Tuanku Muhriz then decreed that Aminuddin continue with his duties until there was further clarity on the issue.
On May 5, Umno and Pakatan Harapan leadership had unanimously agreed to maintain the unity government framework in Negri Sembilan.
However, the 14 assemblymen maintained their stand not to support Aminuddin’s leadership.
On May 22, Negri Sembilan Barisan chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan urged Aminuddin to dissolve the state assembly as it was the best way to resolve the political situation in the state.
State DAP chief Anthony Loke, who concurred with the suggestion, said dissolving the state assembly was the most viable option, as the move by the Barisan assemblymen had caused political cooperation in the unity government to become untenable.
