SEREMBAN: All former Negri Sembilan executive council members had their statements recorded over the state’s constitutional and adat (customary) crisis.
The questioning was carried out by a team of federal police officers at the Negri Sembilan Islamic Affairs Council building.
Each individual was questioned separately by officers from Bukit Aman’s special investigation unit.
When met later, Datuk Mohd Asna Amin said each of the exco members was interviewed for about 30 minutes.
“The sessions were done separately in a professional and cordial manner.
“I was asked about 60 questions and I told them what I knew,” he said.
The other former exco members present were Datuk Mohd Faizal Ramli, Datuk Zaifulbahri Idris, Datuk Mustapha Nagoor, Datuk Mohd Razi Mohd Ali, Siti Nur Umaira Hasim, Suhaimizan Bizar, Siow Kong Choon, Mohd Fairuz Mohd Isa and Datuk Razali Abu Samah.
Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir had revoked the appointments of the 10 exco members on Sept 20, with the Negri Sembilan palace saying they had broken their oath and pledge of allegiance.
The revocation was gazetted on Sept 24.
Mohd Asna said he was made to understand that several other individuals would also be called in to have their statements recorded, though he did not know who they were.
Asked if Mentri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim was present, Mohd Asna replied in the negative.
He also said he was not told to return for another questioning session.
“I believe today’s session was the only one. There won’t be more,” he said.
On whether they were told under which provision of the law they were being questioned, Mohd Asna said they were not told about it.
“We were only told that they had to record our statement in relation to the crisis we are facing in Negri Sembilan.”
On Sunday, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail confirmed that police would record the statements of the former exco members as part of investigations into several reports lodged over the dispute involving the state’s royal institution.
He said police had received numerous reports from various parties and would question those directly involved, including individuals connected to the Undang and Mentri Besar.
On another matter, Mohd Asna said the former exco members had been told to return their official vehicles in a letter received yesterday.
“We have been asked to return them, so we have to take out all our things,” he said.
Mohd Asna added that he is now working mostly out of his service centre as Lenggeng assemblyman.
On the meeting between Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Negri Sembilan’s Barisan, PAS and Parti Wawasan Negara assemblymen, Mohd Asna said the meeting was about finding a way out of the turmoil in the state.
“The government has to keep running. The state budget is near. Whatever happens, we put the people’s interests first,” he said about the meeting on Sunday night at the Umno headquarters.
He added that with the state budget due to be tabled in December, it was up to the Mentri Besar to decide how to proceed.
