Amid the internal upheaval in Negeri Sembilan PKR, Anthony Loke (Chennah-DAP) sought to make a point in the state legislative assembly that the Pakatan Harapan-led Negeri Sembilan government was not on the verge of collapse.
Addressing the state assembly today, Loke acknowledged that he had received queries on whether a change of government was in the offing in Negeri Sembilan, similar to what happened with Muhyiddin Yassin and the federal government last month.
This was after a group of PKR leaders yesterday announced that they had lost confidence in Aminuddin Harun (Sikamat-PKR), who is also the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, to lead the state PKR.
"This morning, I received a message from a friend asking that after the prime minister changed last month, will the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar change today because a number of leaders from PKR had declared they lost confidence in Aminuddin.
"I didn't respond to him on WhatsApp as I wanted to respond in this august House," Loke said.
The joint statement expressing a loss of confidence in the Negeri Sembilan PKR chief included the names of four assemblypersons, namely Ismail Ahmad (Labu), M Ravi (Sri Tanjung), Mohamad Rafie Ab Malek (Ampangan), and Michael Yek Diew Ching (Chuah).
However, Yek had since denied involvement, insisting the matter should be resolved internally.
Loke made it a point to ask the state assembly speaker Zulkefly Mohamad Omar if any government assemblypersons had submitted letters informing him that they were withdrawing support for Aminuddin as the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar.
"I want an answer because it will send a clear message to the people about Aminuddin's position - that he still enjoys majority support in this august House to lead the Negeri Sembilan government.
"To me, the internal tussle of a party is normal. How a party wants to make its decision is up to the party.
"Even if the party wants to replace Aminuddin as its state chairperson, that is its internal affairs but it does not affect his position in government.
"We already have a precedent where the prime minister today is also not the president of his party," said Loke, who is also the DAP national organising secretary.
Zulkefly later confirmed that he did not receive any letters on the withdrawal of support for Aminuddin as the state menteri besar.
Loke noted that nowhere in the PKR statement was it mentioned that they were withdrawing support for Aminuddin as the menteri besar but was instead targeted at his position as the Negeri Sembilan PKR chairperson.
"Therefore, there is no need to dispute the menteri besar's position. Let's support and give our full cooperation to Aminuddin to lead Negeri Sembilan," he said.
Pakatan Harapan has 20 assemblypersons in the 36-member state assembly.
They comprised 11 DAP, six PKR and three Amanah representatives.
The state PKR leaders had been upset at Aminuddin's management of the party and wanted a reshuffle of the state line-up.
The state chiefs are appointed by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.- Mkini
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