SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan Umno has rejected allegations that it was solely responsible for triggering the state's current political crisis that led to the dissolution of the state legislative assembly.
Its secretary Datuk Mustapha Nagoor said the political deadlock was instead caused by Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun's consistent failure to resolve issues related to the state royal institution involving the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the co-Rulers (Undang Yang Empat).
"Lately, various parties have tried to place the entire responsibility for the Negri Sembilan royal and political crises squarely on Umno's shoulders.
"These accusations do not reflect the true situation as we had provided multiple warnings, views and advice to the state leadership to take immediate action on issues related to the state royal institution and adat (customary laws).
"However, these warnings went completely unheeded, prompting all 14 Umno assemblymen to officially withdraw their support for Aminuddin on April 27," he said in a statement on Monday (June 8).
He said while the custom-related crises had also taken place during Umno's 60-year rule of the state, they were never as severe or damaging as the current situation, which he described as "embarrassing to the Royal institution, the Undang (ruling chiefs), and the state's unique Adat Perpatih system."
Mustapha also accused Aminuddin of failing to initiate any formal communication or discussions with the 14 Umno assemblymen throughout the crisis to ease the political friction or explain corrective measures.
Aminuddin announced the dissolution of the state legislative assembly on Thursday (June 4), which took effect the following day.
On criticisms regarding the state Umno's decision to contest all 36 state seats in the upcoming snap state election, he said this was not a show of arrogance.
Mustapha said this was a direct reaction to state DAP chief Anthony Loke’s announcement that his party would contest all 36 state seats.
"Also, the pressure to dissolve the state assembly did not come from Umno.
"It was the state DAP chief (Loke) who had originally declared that the state would follow suit and dissolve its assembly within 24 hours of Johor's dissolution," he said.
Mustapha urged the party's critics to stop making Umno the scapegoat for the situation in the state, adding that the party's stance remains rooted in defending the dignity of the state's traditional institutions and prioritising administrative stability.
