N9 folks slam BN-PN state gov’t for toying with monetary reward so soon after assuming power

 

The newly minted Negeri Sembilan (N9) state government which came to power last weekend (Aug 1) on the basis of ummah unity has been accused of “wanting to drain state funds” in the guise of mooting Deputy EXCO positions for several portfolios to strengthen the state government administration.

This follows revelation by Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim that the EXCO positions will generally be filled with several state assemblymen from component parties including Barisan Nasional (BN), PAS, and Parti Wawasan Negara.

“Since we may not be able to find a place for all the reps in the EXCO line-up, we’re considering the creation of deputy EXCO posts for some of the portfolios that I think are important,” he told reporters at Wisma Negeri in Seremban yesterday (Aug 4).

However, justification by the Juasseh state assemblyman who was picked by Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the head of state government over the favourite candidate Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias who is the N9 UMNO state chairman evoked instantaneous fury on cyberspace.

This can be gauged from a Bernama Threads post of Ismail’s deemed maiden media conference and first day in office.

“So succinctly that he wastes the state government’s money  Oh God, please save Malaysia,” lamented one commenter with another recalling Ismail’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) predecessor Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (Tok Min) could perform marvellously (with 10 EXCOs) sans deputy EXCOs.

“Great, N9 folks. Feel the pain,” jibed a presumably Madani backer while another drew comparison with Selangor which has a population of near 8 million having 10 EXCOs without deputies compared to N9 which only has a population of 1.2 million.

‘N9 folks live to regret’

Delving further, a sharp-tongued political observer chastised the move as one that is intended to reward and satisfy ‘players’ in the BN-PN pact.

“Tok Min has been able to administer well without deputy EXCOs. What is then so burdensome now? The need to divide the loot, right?” KucingKerongKuantan (@KlutzyKucing) lashed out on X.

“There’s a lot of money in the state coffer … So, there’s a pressing need to share it among the partners, right?”

Another seemingly pious commenter berated the fact that wastage and leakage are allowed to happen under one’s nose even when the BN-PN pact thrives on the ummah unification tagline.

“As a Malay, I’m disappointed. BN is showing its old behaviour again,” he lamented.

Is the creation of the deputy EXCO position that previously didn’t exist just to satisfy your “ummah unity” buddies? You guys are treating the rakyat like fools (by reviving the past UMNO big spending traits).

Tok Min had done a good job managing N9 without having deputy EXCOs. Investments have poured in at RM19 bil with civil servants who are mostly Malays receiving three-month bonuses.

One commenter likened the deputy EXCO post to “more or less creative accounting” in that it is a ploy “to distribute state funds among partners in a ‘halal’ and law-abiding manner”.

“In fact, PH still managed to amass RM1.3 bil in reserves and reaped the highest investment in the state’s history (RM19.1 bil) during its eight years in power without deputy EXCOs,” he reminisced. “To N9 folks, you reap what you sow.”

As insinuated by another commenter, N9 folks “will live to regret their choice” given the removal of DAP from the equation coupled with the ummah unity tagline has greatly facilitated the plan to “distribute dozens of positions with money belonging to the rakyat”. –  Focus Malaysia