Zahid to meet 25 BN, PN state reps tonight over N Sembilan royal crisis

BN chairperson Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will meet all 25 BN, PAS and Wawasan Negara assemblypersons tonight to discuss possible solutions to the political and administrative crisis in Negeri Sembilan.

The 25 representatives make up more than two-thirds of the state assembly and form the bloc that had backed the state government, making their position central to any political solution following the termination of 10 exco members.

Zahid said the meeting at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, where he earlier officiated Makkal Sakti Party’s 18th annual congress, would aim at coordinating efforts and hearing proposals from the assemblypersons involved.

“I myself will hold a meeting tonight with all BN assemblypersons, as well as PAS and Wawasan assemblypersons, in this building (WTC) so that I can coordinate matters - without any intention of interfering - but to find the best possible solution to the conflict in Negeri Sembilan,” said the Umno president at a press conference today.

He said several options would be discussed, including how the state administration should move forward following the termination.

“Tonight, we will discuss several options. But priority must be given to all 25 assemblypersons, who together account for more than a two-thirds mandate.

“The solution will come from them, and I will hear from them what the best option is to resolve this problem,” Zahid said when asked whether a new exco would be appointed.

‘Give priority to people’

The revocation of the 10 exco members’ appointments was gazetted on Sept 24, with their removal taking effect from Sept 20.

Zahid noted that the revocation now left Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim as the only person officially remaining in the state government.

“Since only the menteri besar officially remains in the state government, the problems in Negeri Sembilan will, of course, have to be addressed in accordance with the Negeri Sembilan state constitution, its customs and the existing rules and regulations in the state,” he said.

As such, Zahid said he had given Ismail (below) the mandate to seek an amicable solution at the state level.

He said this should include seeking audiences with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, the four undangs, the tunku besar of Tampin, the syahbandar and others in Negeri Sembilan’s customary hierarchy.

“What is important is that the people must be given priority. Their problems must be addressed.

“We should find a good solution at the state level to what has happened and what is still happening.

“We certainly do not want the situation to become more complicated. The people must not be made victims of this situation,” he added.

Calls for the Conference of Rulers to become involved have grown amid the deadlock over the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and other customary and state institutions.

Constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari said the Conference of Rulers was well placed to help resolve the impasse, suggesting that it convene a special meeting to propose a way forward.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | Negeri Sembilan royal rumble: What's going on?

Special tribunal

Meanwhile, lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla proposed that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Conference of Rulers establish a special tribunal to resolve the dispute.

Haniff also suggested a temporary emergency in Negeri Sembilan pending the establishment of the tribunal, while pointing to Article 40(2)(c) of the Federal Constitution, which allows the Agong to request a Conference of Rulers meeting on matters involving the privileges, position, honours and dignities of the rulers.

Both Aziz and Haniff (above) previously appeared as guests on an episode of KiniTV's “Explain Sikit Kini”.

Emergency not the answer

Asked today whether he agreed with calls for the Conference of Rulers to intervene, Zahid said he would leave the matter to the rulers.

“The situation in Negeri Sembilan is different from that in other states. We must respect the royal institution and the customs of Negeri Sembilan,” he said.

However, he rejected the suggestion of an emergency.

“I do not think it should head in that direction because there is no security unrest in Negeri Sembilan.

“There is no need to even consider it, although I have heard some talk about it. There must certainly be better options than declaring an emergency and establishing an emergency council in Negeri Sembilan,” the deputy prime minister added.

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