PUTRAJAYA - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the situation in Negeri Sembilan should be viewed in the context of respecting the royal institution and maintaining administrative stability.
As such, Anwar, who is also chairman of Pakatan Harapan (PH), said a statement by a Umno leader in Negeri Sembilan that the party is prepared to become the opposition in the state should not be overplayed.
"The Umno (Negeri Sembilan) statement is not yet clear. I do not wish to comment on it.
"At present, if the issue concerns the royal institution, I have personally heard from His Royal Higness Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
"So the issue does not arise, as we abide by the Ruler’s decree, which calls for stability and for the Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun) to continue (his duties),” he told reporters after attending the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability’s monthly assembly here today.
He was commenting on a statement issued by Negeri Sembilan Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, who stressed that the party is willing to become the opposition rather than work with PH in the state government, as it does not want to be associated with the state’s customary and constitutional crisis.
Elaborating further, Anwar said any claims that the Negeri Sembilan government led by Aminuddin has lost majority support must be determined through proper legal processes.
"Has it truly lost full support? That will all follow due process,” he said.
He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the monarchy, including the role of the four Undangs (traditional chieftains) as part of Negeri Sembilan’s governance structure.
"I have also conveyed to the Menteri Besar that, in addition to adhering to the decree of the Yang Dipertuan Besar, he should continue engaging with the four Undangs, in accordance with Negeri Sembilan’s laws and customs,” he said.
On April 27, all 14 Barisan Nasional assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan were reported to have announced a loss of confidence and withdrawn support for the state government led by Aminuddin, following a crisis involving the state’s customary and constitutional institutions.
The crisis in Negeri Sembilan began after the Undang Luak Sungei Ujong, who was reported to have signed the declaration to depose Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. - BERNAMA