Negeri Sembilan Umno has officially withdrawn its support for menteri besar Aminuddin Harun, with all 14 of its assemblymen declaring a loss of confidence in his leadership.
State chapter chairman Jalaluddin Alias announced the decision during a press conference, citing the menteri besar’s handling of a crisis involving the state royalty.
The decision is linked to an ongoing situation involving four chieftains reportedly seeking to remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
Jalaluddin, who serves as the Pertang assemblyman, expressed profound disappointment over the crisis and its potential impact on the state’s stability.
According to Jalaluddin, the 14 Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen reached a unanimous decision regarding the retraction of support.
He asserted that Aminuddin should have taken proactive steps to intervene and resolve the matters surrounding the royalty before the situation escalated.
Lack of communication cited
Jalaluddin further claimed that neither Umno, BN, nor their representatives in the state executive council were informed of any high-level discussions regarding the royal crisis.
The party reportedly only became aware of the full extent of the issue after it had reached a critical stage and became a subject of public discourse.
The state chairman confirmed that an official notice regarding the withdrawal of support would be submitted to the state assembly speaker and the secretary immediately.
This move places the current administration in a precarious position, given the current seat distribution in the state assembly.
In the 2023 state election, Pakatan Harapan secured 17 seats while Barisan Nasional won 14. Perikatan Nasional holds the remaining five seats.
The loss of BN’s 14 seats significantly challenges the majority previously held by the coalition government.
Impact on state administration
Aminuddin, the Sikamat assemblyman, was sworn in for a second term as menteri besar in August 2023. Under his current administration, BN holds four executive council positions, including the portfolio held by Jalaluddin as the rural development, plantation and commodities executive councillor.
Other BN representatives in the administration include Ismail Lasim, who serves as the executive councillor for education and human capital, and Mustapha Nagoor, the executive councillor for youth and sports development.
Faizal Ramli holds the portfolio for heritage, technology, innovation and digital.
The withdrawal of support by such a significant bloc of the government highlights a deepening rift within the state’s political landscape.
The focus now shifts to the state assembly speaker and the formal processes that will follow the submission of the notice of non-confidence.
