KUALA PILAH: Juasseh assemblyman Datuk Ismail Lasim has been sworn in as the new Mentri Besar of Negri Sembilan.
The 67-year-old veteran Umno politician, who is also Kuala Pilah Umno chief, was sworn in before the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir at Istana Besar Seri Menanti here.
In the last state government, Ismail, who is Negri Sembilan Umno information chief, held the education and human capital portfolio.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Universiti Malaya.
Ismail served as Senaling assemblyman from 1999 to 2018 and again from 2023 to 2026.
From 2018 to 2023, he served as Juasseh assemblyman.
In Saturday's (Aug 1) election, he defeated Pakatan Harapan's Mohd Aidil Abdullah and Bersatu's Mohd Zuhaimi Md Yusof in a three-cornered fight.
Ismail secured 6,907 votes against 2,816 obtained by Mohd Aidil and 506 won by Mohd Zuhaimi.
Barisan and Perikatan Nasional secured a majority of the seats in the Negri Sembilan state polls.
The Election Commission's official results showed Barisan won 18 seats, with Umno securing 16 and MCA two, while Perikatan won seven seats, comprising four won by PAS and three by Wawasan.
Pakatan Harapan won 11 seats, with DAP taking nine and PKR the remaining two.
