BN open to forming unity govt in Negeri Sembilan after polls

 However, coalition chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says it is still too early to hold formal discussions on any electoral cooperation.

Barisan Nasional chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said BN remains open to continuing its cooperation with Pakatan Harapan to form a new unity state government.

PETALING JAYA:

Barisan Nasional is all set for the Negeri Sembilan election and remains open to continuing its cooperation with Pakatan Harapan to retain the unity government in the state, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

However, Zahid said it is still too early to hold formal discussions on any electoral cooperation between the two coalitions, Bernama quoted him as saying in Putrajaya.

His remarks came after the Negeri Sembilan state assembly was dissolved today, paving the way for elections, two months after the 14-member Umno bloc in the state assembly stated they had lost confidence in menteri besar Aminuddin Harun and were withdrawing support for his state government.

A week later, after a meeting between the Umno bloc and the PH leadership, Negri Sembilan Umno said they would remain in the state government but stood by their withdrawal of support for the menteri besar.

PH and BN formed the Negeri Sembilan coalition government after the 2022 election, securing a combined 31 of the 36 seats contested. PH won 17 seats, followed by BN with 14, while Perikatan Nasional secured five seats.

Aminuddin, who is the state leader of PH and PKR, had come under fire from the Umno block for his alleged failure to manage a crisis involving an attempt by the state’s traditional district chieftains to remove the state ruler, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

PH chairman and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said earlier today that Tuanku Muhriz remains the recognised Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. - FMT