SEREMBAN - The Negeri Sembilan Umno is seeking an audience with the Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, following its decision to withdraw support for the Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, yesterday.
State Umno chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias said the request was made to formally convey the party’s position on the shift in political support affecting the state administration.
"We have submitted a request for an audience to formally inform His Royal Highness of our withdrawal of support for the Menteri Besar. The request has yet to be granted, but I’m ready at any time,” he told reporters today.
The Pertang assemblyman said previous cooperation between Umno and Pakatan Harapan (PH) had set a few "red lines” that must not be crossed, including matters involving religion, race and royalty (3R).
He said the current situation concerns upholding Umno’s principles in relation to the disputes involving the adat (customary) and the royal institutions.
"We want to ensure the Negeri Sembilan government is well managed and remains stable, particularly in matters involving the people and the customary institution. The disputes should have been addressed earlier to prevent them from becoming a public debate on social media and other platforms, which can invite various interpretations.
"When left unresolved, it leads to speculation that could affect the reputation of the state government, the monarch and the adat institutions,” he stressed.
Jalaluddin said all Barisan Nasional (BN) executive councillors had all been instructed to return official assets, including vehicles and equipment, to the State Secretary’s Office and to vacate their offices.
Yesterday, all 14 Umno and BN assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan unanimously withdrew support for the state government led by Aminuddin.
However, Aminuddin said he had been instructed by Tuanku Muhriz to continue administering the state.
Meanwhile, Jalaluddin also dismissed claims that the crisis amounted to a tebuk atap move or an attempt to form a "backdoor government” in the state, noting that BN has always been part of the ruling government, not an opposition.
"If we intended to form a backdoor government, we could have done so long ago after the last state election. Umno holds 14 seats and, together with Perikatan Nasional’s five, we would have had the numbers.
"There is no reason for us to take such action. We are already part of the government. I am the senior exco member, along with three others. Why would we form a backdoor government? Tebuk atap is a move typically done by the opposition seeking to topple the government,” he said.
Negeri Sembilan has 36 seats in its State Assembly. In the 2023 state election, PH won 17 seats, BN 14 and PN five. PH and BN formed the Unity Government after securing a combined 31 seats. - BERNAMA