Zahid Hamidi to meet 25 Negeri Sembilan assemblymen to coordinate efforts to resolve the state political impasse and discuss the Melaka election
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will meet all 25 Barisan Nasional, PAS and Wawasan Negeri Sembilan assemblymen tonight as efforts intensify to resolve the political impasse in the state.
Zahid said the meeting, to be held at Menara Dato’ Onn, would focus on coordinating efforts to find a solution, stressing that any resolution should be handled at the state level in accordance with the state constitution, adat and existing rules.
He said the meeting was intended to allow him to coordinate efforts without interfering, but rather to help find the best way to resolve the impasse currently facing Negeri Sembilan.
He said he had also given Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim the mandate to seek the best solution by consulting the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, the Undang Yang Empat and other traditional authorities.
“The important thing is that the people must be given priority. Their problems must be addressed and they must be united,” he said at a press conference after the 18th Annual General Assembly of Makkal Sakti Malaysia at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) today.
Zahid said the 25 assemblymen, who had been given a mandate by voters to form the state government, should remain central to efforts to resolve the impasse.
He also ruled out an emergency declaration for now, saying there had been no disturbance to public order in Negeri Sembilan to warrant such a move.
“I don’t think it should head in that direction because there is no disturbance in terms of security in Negeri Sembilan,” he said.
He said other options should be explored instead of declaring an emergency and establishing an emergency council in the state.
Zahid said the matter should also be handled with due respect for the royal institution and adat in Negeri Sembilan, which he said differed from those in other states.
On the Melaka election, Zahid said Umno and Barisan Nasional were finalising the form of understanding or cooperation to be adopted for the state polls.
He said discussions with Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh had been held and the matter would be brought to the Umno Supreme Council and BN Supreme Council.
He said the parties would also await the Election Commission’s decision on Oct 7 on the nomination, early voting and polling dates.
