Academician: Aminuddin remains Negri Sembilan MB unless proven to have lost majority

 

Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun remains constitutionally legitimate despite competing political claims, an academician said. - BERNAMA PIC

KUALA LUMPUR: Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun remains constitutionally legitimate despite competing political claims, an academician said.

Associate Professor Dr Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk said the key issue is not public declarations but whether there is formal proof that Aminuddin has lost majority support in the Negri Sembilan state legislative assembly.

The Universiti Sains Malaysia academic said under the state Constitution which mirrors federal provisions, the Menteri Besar remains in office unless he resigns or is shown to have lost the confidence of the majority in the legislative assembly.

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"Competing claims, including the withdrawal of support by political parties or counter-claims by the Menteri Besar, do not automatically remove him," said Azeem, who is also director of the Centre for Policy Research.

He said the most established method of determining loss of confidence remains a formal vote in the state assembly.

However, he noted that Malaysian constitutional practice also allows such determination outside the assembly, including through statutory declarations (SDs) or direct audience with the Ruler.

"SDs are evidentiary, not decisive. They must satisfy the Ruler that the Menteri Besar no longer commands majority support," he added.

On the postponement of the state assembly sitting, Azeem said that while there is no fixed constitutional limit, delays cannot be used indefinitely to avoid testing majority support.

"Prolonged postponement may raise constitutional impropriety and could invite intervention," he said.

He outlined several possible scenarios, including the Menteri Besar proving his majority support and remaining in office, the Ruler determining a loss of confidence leading to a new appointment, or the dissolution of the assembly for a snap state election.

Azeem added that beyond a no-confidence vote, statutory declarations or a collective audience with the ruler are also constitutionally viable mechanisms to resolve the impasse.

It was reported that 14 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen had withdrawn their support for Aminuddin yesterday.

However, Aminuddin has reiterated that he will continue to lead the state administration. - NST