Loke vows fight against Umno leader who withdrew support, 'betrayed royal system'

 

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has labelled the Negeri Sembilan Umno leadership as traitors and rebels against the constitutional monarchy system in the state.

Although he did not explicitly name the party or individuals, he claimed the Negeri Sembilan coalition government leadership should have been united and cooperative when the crisis hit.

However, he said some quarters chose to stab them in the back and attempted to topple the state government led by PKR’s Aminuddin Harun.

“I have no problem accepting Malay leadership in Negeri Sembilan; we support a Malay menteri besar, but a prosperous Malay menteri besar like Aminuddin - this is the menteri besar we support, not someone who will stab us in the back.

“Not someone who, when a crisis hits our state, when we should be united, should be working together, and cooperating to resolve the situation in Negeri Sembilan, they instead chose to use the crisis as an opportunity to stab us in the back, withdrawing support from Aminuddin and attempting to topple the Negeri Sembilan unity government.

“That person is a traitor and a rebel to the constitutional monarchy system in Negeri Sembilan. If that person wants to be a menteri besar candidate, we will fight them all the way. No one needs to mention who that person is,” he said last night at the launch of Pakatan Harapan’s candidates for the upcoming state election.

He was believed to be referring to Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias.

Jalaluddin had led the state’s 14 Umno assemblypersons to withdraw support from Aminuddin in April, claiming it was because the latter had bungled a dispute between Negeri Sembilan’s four undang (territorial chieftains) and the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, which led to a ruler crisis.

Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias

He later attempted to form a new state government with Perikatan Nasional support, but was believed to have been blocked by the state palace.

The ruler crisis reached a point where there was a rival claimant to the state throne, as well as competing claimants to the chieftain posts.

Under the state’s customary law, the ruler position is not hereditary, but is instead an elected post with the Undang Yang Empat being those who decide who gets to sit on the throne.

Warning against exploiting ruler crisis

Meanwhile, Loke, who is also the transport minister, warned Harapan leaders and machinery not to touch on customary sensitivities throughout the state election campaign.

He also stressed that DAP is a party that upholds the constitutional monarchy system and the principles of the Federal Constitution.

“I want to give a reminder to friends, to workers, to members: do not joke, do not make fun of the Negeri Sembilan customary system; this is something I will not accept, I will not forgive.

“If any of our members make a slip of the tongue, we apologise to the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, the Undang Yang Empat, and the Tunku Besar Tampin,” he said.

Loke’s remarks came before Anwar took the stage and also warned all quarters from using the ruler crisis as campaign material. - Mkini