Umno’s Ismail Lasim was sworn in today as the 12th menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan following the Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional alliance’s convincing victory in the 16th state election.
The seven-term assemblyman took his oath of office before Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir at Istana Besar Seri Menanti.
Among those present at the ceremony were outgoing State Assembly Speaker MK Ibrahim Abd Rahman, Barisan Nasional deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan and newly elected BN-PN assemblymen.
Ismail succeeds PKR vice-president Aminuddin Harun, who served as menteri besar for two terms since 2018.
Veteran assemblyman assumes top state post
The 63-year-old retained the Juasseh state seat in yesterday’s election with a majority of 4,091 votes, securing his seventh consecutive term as an assemblyman.
He previously represented Senaling from 1999 to 2018 before contesting Juasseh for one term. He later returned to Senaling in the 2023 state election.
Ismail has extensive experience in the state administration, having served as a state executive councillor in several portfolios between 2008 and 2018 under Mohamad’s administration.
Following the 2023 state election, he returned to the state government as the education and human capital executive councillor under Aminuddin’s administration.
BN-PN secures two-thirds majority
In yesterday’s state election, Barisan Nasional won 18 seats while Perikatan Nasional secured seven, giving the two coalitions a combined two-thirds majority in the 36-seat Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly.
Pakatan Harapan won the remaining 11 seats.
