KUALA LUMPUR: There is no question of Umno betraying Pakatan Harapan in the looming Negri Sembilan state election, as the political cooperation agreed at the Federal Government ends with dissolution, says Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).
The Deputy Prime Minister also said that in any election, every political party in a coalition will have its own direction to strengthen itself in the state or Parliament.
He said this in response to Pakatan leaders stating that the Negri state election was due to Umno assemblymen retracting their support for Negri Sembila Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
Ahmad Zahid was speaking to the media after officiating the Fourth Edition South-East Asian Scholars Conference 2026.
"There is no issue of betrayal because our support for the government in Negri Sembilan remains until the end of the term. When the Mentri Besar (Chief Minister) of Negri Sembilan announced the dissolution, we acted as a coalition of parties that naturally has goals and directions that must be translated into action.
“I do not think there was any betrayal when a state administration term or a national term has come to an end. We then seek the best way to strengthen our position in the State Legislative Assembly or in Parliament,” said Ahmad Zahid.
The Negri Sembilan constitutional and political crisis stems from a clash between the State Legislative Assembly, Aminuddin and the four Undang (ruling chiefs) over the status of Yang di-Pertuan Besar, leading to the dissolution of the state assembly on June 5.
Ahmad Zahid further stated that the separate election dates announced by the Election Commission (EC) should not be made an issue.
He was referring to Housing and Local Government and DAP leader Nga Kor Ming, who questioned the separate dates and called for the resignation of the EC chief.
"That is the right and authority of the EC. No individual should express such a personal opinion, especially if they hold a position as a member of the Cabinet. Even more so if that person is a senior leader of a party that is part of the current government.”
On Friday, DAP deputy chairperson Nga was reported as saying that the EC’s explanation is “absurd” and “ridiculous”, and the entire commission should resign if it cannot hold simultaneous elections for two states that dissolved their assemblies just three days apart.
The EC has set July 11 and Aug 1 as polling day for the Johor and Negri Sembilan state elections respectively.
