KUALA LUMPUR (April 27): The DAP has reaffirmed its support for Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun on Monday after Umno state assemblymen withdrew their backing for the state administration.
DAP secretary general Anthony Loke said all 11 of the party’s assemblymen in the state will continue to support Aminuddin and asserted that the menteri besar’s position can only be legally challenged through constitutional processes.
“DAP will oppose any attempt to form a ‘backdoor government’ in Negeri Sembilan,” said Loke, who is also the state DAP chairman and assemblyman for Chennah, in a social media post.
According to Loke, the menteri besar could be removed through a vote in the state legislative assembly, particularly via a motion of no confidence or failure to command majority support. The only other way is by getting the consent of the state ruler, he said, citing the 2009 constitutional crisis in Perak, where a change in majority support led to the appointment of a new menteri besar.
“His [Aminuddin's] position as menteri besar remains unless proven otherwise,” Loke said at a press conference earlier.
This was after Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias announced that all Umno-Barisan Nasional assemblymen in the state had agreed to withdraw their support for the Aminuddin-led administration, citing a loss of confidence in the menteri besar.
The state legislative assembly has 36 seats. Prior to Umno’s withdrawal, the Pakatan Harapan-led administration held 17 seats — comprising 11 from DAP, five from PKR, and one from Amanah — while Umno held 14 seats.
With Umno’s withdrawal of support, the ruling bloc no longer commands a clear majority. The opposition Perikatan Nasional controls five seats.
Loke claimed that the current state government was formed based on a pre-election understanding between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional, and is not a post-election pact.
“This is the mandate given by the people to the unity government formed by Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional,” he said, adding that any withdrawal of support now would be seen as disregarding voters’ mandate.
“Any attempt to form a government other than the current one would go against the will of the people.”
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