In a statement, the state chapter insisted that the retraction of support by the 14 assemblymen was made “openly, formally and based on principles”.
“It is not a covert move, not a backdoor deal, and not a power grab. It is a legitimate political stance (taken) after a loss of confidence in the menteri besar’s leadership,” it said.
The statement was in response to Pakatan Harapan (PH), which had earlier described the withdrawal of support as an attempt to take over the state administration.
Its communications director, Fahmi Fadzil, said the coalition regretted the incident and strongly rejected such “acts of betrayal”.
Negeri Sembilan BN said PH must understand that the issue was not a normal political dispute, but involved adat (customary practices), the state constitution and the stability of a state administration.
It also said it could no longer share responsibility for decisions that it claimed were made without proper consultation and were seen as disregarding customs and the state constitution.
“For this reason, the retraction of support is not merely about the menteri besar’s day-to-day performance, but about confidence in his leadership in managing a highly sensitive institutional crisis,” it added.
The BN state chapter also urged all parties, including PH, not to reduce the issue to a mere political power struggle, saying that the public deserved an honest explanation of the situation.
“This is not a backdoor takeover. It is a crisis of confidence in the menteri besar due to his failure to properly manage issues related to customs and the constitution,” it said.
Negeri Sembilan Umno yesterday retracted its support for Aminuddin, citing a loss of confidence in his leadership over the ongoing crisis involving four chieftains seeking to remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, from his position.
Tuanku Muhriz has told Aminuddin to stay on as menteri besar until the issue of his majority support in the state assembly is “clarified”.
BN has also claimed that it now commands a simple majority to form the state government after receiving support from five Perikatan Nasional assemblymen.