State Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias said the 14 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen had lost confidence in Aminuddin’s leadership, and were not aiming to take over the state government.

He said BN was already prepared to join the opposition in the event that PN’s five assemblymen decided to support the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led administration.

“But PN decided to back Umno-BN to lead the government … when an offer comes in, I have to discuss it. What’s wrong with accepting it?” he told reporters at the Negeri Sembilan Umno headquarters here.

The three-term assemblyman added that PH assemblymen were welcome to give BN their backing to form the state government.

Nonetheless, he said Umno would leave it to the wisdom of Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, to resolve the ongoing political crisis in line with the state’s laws.

“I am ready for an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar any time, and I am also ready to accept any decision.”

Yesterday, Jalaluddin said the decision to retract support for Aminuddin was linked to the ongoing crisis involving four chieftains seeking to remove Tuanku Muhriz from his position.

Negeri Sembilan BN later claimed it had the numbers to form a new state government, with the backing of PN’s five assemblymen.

A simple majority of 19 assemblymen in the 36-member Negeri Sembilan assembly is needed to form the government. PH has 17 assemblymen.