SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan government will proceed with tabling the 2027 state budget despite the state executive council positions remaining vacant, says Datuk Ismail Lasim.
The Mentri Besar said the state’s 25 Barisan Nasional, PAS and Wawasan assemblymen would also convene later this month for a budget consultation session to finalise next year’s spending plans.
“We are planning to have the opening of the state assembly by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar on Nov 26, followed by the tabling of the Budget 2027 the following day.
“The debates will be held over four days beginning Nov 30,” he said after handing over appointment letters to 407 village development and security committee (JPKK) chairmen and secretaries here.
Ismail said it was not a must for exco positions to be filled for the budget to be tabled.
Elaborating, he said the usual practice was for the budget to be taken to the exco to be endorsed after the relevant departments had given inputs.
“So, for now, we have roped in all the relevant government departments to provide us with feedback on the budget for next year.
“Therefore, department heads now play an important role in ensuring the operations of their departments under an exco’s portfolio run as usual,” he said.
State Ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir had revoked the appointments of the state’s 10 exco members after they allegedly violated their oath of office on Sept 15 by agreeing to replace him with Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar.
Their removal took effect on Sept 20.
Asked who would be officially opening the state assembly meeting on Nov 26, he merely said, “We will cross the bridge when we get there”.
Ismail said the state administration and public services continue to function smoothly despite the absence of the exco members.
Citing an example, he said the move to hand out the letters of appointment to the JPKK chairmen and secretaries was to ensure the needs of the people continued to be looked after.
“We know the people, especially those in the lower-income category, need assistance in various matters.
“Today’s event is proof that we have continued to look into the well-being of the rakyat, including from the villages and kampung, despite the administrative problems,” he said.
Asked if the new exco members would be appointed before the tabling of the state budget, Ismail remained non-committal but said this would be done in due course.
“Like they say, let us take it one at a time.
“Today we appointed the village headmen and secretaries and this will be followed up with exco members,” he said.
To another question, Ismail said his relationship with state secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim remained good despite problems in the state.
On Oct 5, the former exco members filed a suit against Mohd Zafir and the state government over the validity of a gazette notification from the state government regarding their removal.
The 10 assemblymen are seeking a High Court declaration that the gazette published by the state secretary on the orders of the state Ruler is null, void and entirely ineffective because it allegedly bypasses the requirements of the laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan 1959.
