KUALA LUMPUR (April 27): Barisan Nasional (BN) Negeri Sembilan said it has the numbers to form a new state government after Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) five assemblymen publicly offered support, giving the bloc a combined 19 seats in the 36-member Negeri Sembilan state legislative assembly.
The claim came hours after all 14 Umno-BN assemblymen withdrew support for Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, who is from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, citing a loss of confidence amid an ongoing political crisis triggered by an escalating dispute involving the state’s royal institution.
In a statement on Monday, BN said it welcomed PN’s readiness to cooperate in what it described as an "extraordinary situation" requiring a stable administration to be formed swiftly.
“Umno-BN welcomes the willingness of the five PN assemblymen to cooperate in ensuring the continuity of the state administration,” the coalition said.
"In this extraordinary situation, the interests of the people of Negeri Sembilan outweigh all partisan interests. We are prepared to set aside ideological differences to ensure that a stable government can be formed immediately,” it added.
BN said the support from PN meant it had secured a simple majority to form the next state government.
Following BN's announcement of its withdrawal earlier on Monday, Negeri Sembilan opposition leader Mohamad Hanifah Abu Bakar said PN was prepared to work with Umno to safeguard continuity in the administration and restore political stability amid the uncertainty.
With the withdrawal of BN's support, the PH-led administration has been left with 17 seats, below the threshold needed for a majority.
Aminuddin, however, said he would continue to lead the state government as a minority administration after an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
The latest developments come amid a dispute over the state ruler, after the four territorial chiefs of Negeri Sembilan, known as the Undang Yang Empat, announced that Tuanku Muhriz had been removed and replaced by Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar.
Under Article 10(1) of the state’s constitution, the Undang yang Empat are empowered to determine whether the ruler is unfit to rule due to serious incapacity, misconduct, or breaches of the constitution or Islamic principles, and to require him to step aside or abdicate.
Aminuddin however rejected the declaration, arguing that constitutional procedures had not been properly followed and that one of the Undangs had already been removed from office before the announcement.
The four Undangs and the Tunku Besar of Tampin subsequently called for Aminuddin’s removal, describing him as unfit for office. They also called for the state assembly sitting to be postponed and said they would not attend it.
The state assembly sitting, originally scheduled from April 23 to 29 for debates on the royal address, was adjourned by Speaker Datuk MK Ibrahim Abd Rahman after Tuanku Muhriz delivered his speech.
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