Aide denies Ismail has resigned as Negeri Sembilan MB

 Ismail Lasim’s press secretary also denies that the menteri besar met with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier today.

Ismail Lasim, who was appointed the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar on Aug 2, was a surprise choice as he was initially not among the Umno frontrunners. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

An aide to Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim has denied that the Umno leader has resigned from the post just 44 days after being appointed.

Ismail’s press secretary, Fasha Musthafa, simply said that rumours of the menteri besar’s resignation were false.

Fasha also denied that Ismail had met with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier, saying there was no such meeting on the menteri besar’s schedule for today.

Rumours of Ismail’s resignation started circulating today, four days after he met Zahid and Umno’s three vice-presidents over his claim that he was forced to sign a proclamation seeking to remove the state’s ruler.

Ismail said he signed the document under duress and had lodged a police report to facilitate an investigation.

The seven-term assemblyman also rejected the validity of the document, which was reportedly also signed by four other “chieftains”.

Ismail was appointed menteri besar on Aug 2, a surprise choice as he was initially not among the frontrunners in Umno. - FMT