Perikatan Nasional (PN) deputy chairman Hamzah Zainudin has identified Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias as a likely candidate for the menteri besar’s post if Barisan Nasional (BN) and PN succeed in forming the state government after the Aug 1 election.
Hamzah said the two coalitions would still need to discuss the appointment before a final decision is made, adding that PN would support the candidate chosen by BN.
Speaking at BN’s operations room in Felcra Lakai, Hamzah said it would not be appropriate for PN to decide the menteri besar candidate on its own.
‘It is not fair to ask me if PN will nominate Jalaluddin, because BN needs to sit down with us. We know who we want, but if BN has a different preference, we can discuss it,’ he said.
Jalaluddin and PAS central working committee member Ahmad Marzuk Shaary were also present.
BN to decide its preferred candidate
Hamzah said discussions between BN and PN would determine the final candidate if both coalitions secure enough seats to form the state government.
He stressed that while PN may have its own preference, the coalition would ultimately support BN’s choice following mutual discussions.
Earlier on July 19, Jalaluddin said PN had agreed that the menteri besar’s post would be allocated to BN should their cooperation succeed in forming the Negeri Sembilan government.
Several BN leaders in the running
Jalaluddin previously said BN has several qualified leaders who could be considered for the post.
Besides himself, he named Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan and Seri Menanti candidate Sufian Maradzi as among those eligible for consideration.
Negeri Sembilan voters will head to the polls on Aug 1, with all 36 state seats up for contest.
Under the electoral understanding between BN and PN, BN will contest 25 seats while PN will field candidates in the remaining 11, with no overlapping contests.
