Anwar urges Negeri Sembilan voters to return Pakatan to power, backs Aminuddin for MB

SEREMBAN, June 13 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday called on voters in Negeri Sembilan to give the coalition a fresh mandate in the 16th state election to continue governing the state.

The prime minister said such support was crucial to enable Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun to continue leading the state administration and ensure a more secure future for Negeri Sembilan.

“I am asking for a mandate for the Pakatan Harapan government in Negeri Sembilan. With that mandate, Tok Min (Aminuddin Harun) can be reappointed as menteri besar.

“Insya-Allah, Negeri Sembilan’s future will be more secure. The future of this state is the future of workers and small traders,” he said when launching Negeri Sembilan PH’s election machinery here last night. 

Also present were PH deputy chairman Anthony Loke, PH secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, PKR information chief and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, as well as other senior coalition leaders.

Anwar also stressed that the government’s primary focus is on safeguarding the welfare of the people and strengthening the national economy through increased investment.

He said Malaysia’s investment performance had been encouraging compared with several neighbouring countries, with a number of states recording rapid growth.

“I want to emphasise once again that we govern for the welfare of the people. We want to do our job as best as possible,” he said, adding that Johor and Negeri Sembilan were among the states that had seen strong development momentum driven by growing economic activity and investment inflows.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the government did not adopt a hostile approach despite political differences among leaders.

“I am not interested in hostility. On my right are Umno leaders, including the deputy prime minister, who is Umno president. We continue to work together as usual because we care about the people,” he said.

Anwar said political stability and cooperation among parties in the Unity Government were crucial to ensuring that the country’s development agenda could be implemented effectively for the benefit of the people.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said the Federal Government would not interfere in matters involving the Negeri Sembilan royal institution, stressing that any issues must be resolved in accordance with the Constitution and existing laws.

He said that while there were differing views on the state’s royal system, the Federal Government continued to respect the jurisdiction of the state government and the institution of the Yang Dipertuan Besar.

“I know there are some in Negeri Sembilan who disagree with my position. I do not interfere in state affairs,” he said.

Anwar said he and government representatives had engaged with relevant parties, including the state’s Undangs, but stressed that he did not question the Adat Perpatih customary system, the Undangs or the state’s constitutional framework.

“Did I not speak to the Undangs? Yes, I did. But I do not question Adat Perpatih, the Undangs or the Luaks. I do not question them. Those are matters governed by the state’s constitution. For now, while the issues have yet to be fully resolved, we have a menteri besar and we have the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan,” he said.

He also reminded all parties not to turn the royal institution into a subject of political dispute that could undermine national stability and the Constitutional Monarchy system.

“We say we support the monarchy, but at the same time work to remove the Ruler. I do not agree with that. Any change must be made in accordance with constitutional processes,” he said. — Bernama