Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias has defended the decision by UMNO/Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen to withdraw support from Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun, insisting the move should not be labelled as a “backdoor government” attempt.
Jalaluddin, who is also the Pertang state assemblyman and Jelebu Member of Parliament, said the decision by 14 UMNO/BN assemblymen was made to uphold party principles and prevent political interference in matters involving the state’s royal institution and customary system. He stressed that the move was necessary following what he described as the state administration’s failure to properly manage issues related to adat, constitutional matters and the monarchy.
He pointed out that the ongoing crisis, which has sparked public debate including on social media, stemmed from shortcomings in handling sensitive institutional matters. According to him, the issue goes beyond whether the State Legislative Assembly sitting was postponed, but rather concerns deeper governance failures.
Rejecting claims of political manoeuvring, Jalaluddin explained that the term “backdoor government” typically refers to opposition parties attempting to seize power. In this case, he argued, BN is already part of the government, making such allegations unfounded. He also dismissed suggestions that the move was a calculated effort to topple the Menteri Besar, noting that BN could have acted earlier if that had been the intention.
He added that during the formation of the Unity Government in Negeri Sembilan, all parties had agreed on key principles that should not be challenged, particularly those involving the monarchy, religion and Malay rights. As such, he believes dissolving the State Assembly and returning the mandate to the people remains the best solution to restore political stability.
However, Jalaluddin acknowledged that the final decision rests with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir. He added that any further action by UMNO/BN would be carried out through proper legal and constitutional channels.
On the issue of a minority government, he said there is effectively no such concept in practice, warning that a government without a simple majority would struggle to function. He cautioned that key matters such as policy approvals, expenditure and implementation of programmes could face constant challenges, potentially leading to further instability.
Earlier, Aminuddin had stated that Pakatan Harapan would continue administering the state despite lacking a simple majority, following advice from the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. However, Jalaluddin maintained that under normal circumstances, a Menteri Besar who loses majority support should not continue governing, as the government would no longer have sufficient backing in the assembly.
