BN has 16 MB candidates, Jalaluddin quips

N SEMBILAN POLLS | Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias has sidestepped a question on who will be the next menteri besar following BN’s major victory in the state polls.

Speaking to the press at the BN election command centre, he quipped that the coalition has 16 options to choose from.

“I think there are 16 (menteri besar candidates). I am not sure (who will be selected), we will discuss first,” he said.

Jalaluddin said the decision will be made soon, indicating that discussions will begin tonight.

The Umno leader was referring to 16 Malay candidates from BN who won the state polls, as the state constitution requires a menteri besar to be a Malay-Muslim.

Asked when the new menteri besar will be sworn in, the Pertang assemblyperson said he will have to check with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Earlier, Zahid told a press conference that BN will discuss with its partner Perikatan Nasional first on forming the next state government.

The state polls saw BN securing 18 seats while PN, seven, allowing the two coalitions to form a two-thirds majority in the 36-seat state legislative assembly.

Jalaluddin had previously told Malaysiakini that under the BN-PN pact, it has been agreed that the next menteri besar would be from BN if they form a government.

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