The 10 Negri Sembilan executive councillors whose appointments were revoked by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar have been instructed to return their official vehicles, according to Lenggeng assemblyman Mohd Asna Amin.
Mohd Asna, one of the 10 affected former executive councillors, confirmed that he received a letter from the state secretary’s office on Monday (Sept 28).
‘I didn’t even read the letter earlier,’ he told reporters after giving a statement to police at the Negri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council building.
‘But we have been asked to return them, so we have to take out all our things. It’s fine, whatever the instructions are.’
He said he was currently operating mainly from his Lenggeng constituency service centre.
Police record statement over state crisis
Mohd Asna said police asked him more than 60 questions while recording his statement over the political crisis in Negri Sembilan.
He said the process took about 30 minutes and was conducted separately by officers from Bukit Aman.
‘So far, we have answered over 60 questions, all related to the crisis and the events that unfolded.
‘This is because Negri Sembilan is unique; our State Constitution is distinct compared to those of other states,’ he said.
Mohd Asna said the statement-recording process was conducted professionally and that he had fully cooperated with police.
He said he answered all questions based on his knowledge of the events involved.
He also understood that the 10 former executive councillors would not be the only individuals called to assist in the investigation.
Several other individuals were also expected to have their statements recorded, although Mohd Asna did not disclose their identities.
He said he had completed the process and had not been informed whether he would be required to provide another statement.
A team from the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit (USJT) of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department was seen leaving the MAINS Tower at about 2pm after completing the statement-recording process.
State political deadlock continues
Mohd Asna’s confirmation came amid an ongoing political dispute in Negri Sembilan.
Mentri Besar Ismail Lasim said last week that the former executive councillors had been verbally instructed not to enter their offices at Wisma Negeri.
Meanwhile, Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi met state assemblymen from Barisan, PAS and Wawasan at Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday night to discuss the state’s political situation.
Mohd Asna said the meeting focused on efforts to resolve the ongoing deadlock, particularly with the state budget scheduled to be tabled in December.
‘The government has to keep running, and the state budget is near,’ he said.
‘Whatever happens, we put the people’s interests first.’
Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir revoked the appointments of the 10 executive councillors on Sept 20 after the palace said they had violated their signed oath of allegiance.
The revocation followed a controversial statement by the executive councillors concerning the ruler’s position.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers subsequently declared the statement invalid before the revocation was officially gazetted on Sept 24.
Official vehicle to be returned
Mohd Asna also confirmed that he had been instructed to return the official vehicle assigned to him during his tenure as an executive councillor.
He said the vehicle had not been used since his appointment was revoked and that he would comply with the instruction.
The return of the vehicles comes as the former executive councillors continue to provide statements to police as part of the investigation into the Negri Sembilan crisis.
