Meeting with 25 Negri Sembilan lawmakers focuses on duties, not palace dispute
Negeri Sembilan UMNO clarifies assemblymen meeting focus: No Istana audience discussion, duties and party unity emphasized
Source: Bernama English · September 30, 2026 at 9:14 PM · AI-assisted report
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KUALA LUMPUR, 1 OCTOBER 2026 —
Negeri Sembilan UMNO clarifies assemblymen meeting focus: No Istana audience discussion, duties and party unity emphasized
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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 30 — Negeri Sembilan UMNO chief Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias confirmed that a special meeting with 25 state assemblymen tonight explicitly avoided addressing the political fallout from yesterday’s audience between Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim and Negeri Sembilan Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
The gathering instead centered on reinforcing the assemblymen’s constitutional obligations, with Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urging them to remain focused on constituency service amid the state’s political turbulence.
Jalaluddin told reporters after the meeting at Menara Dato Onn that discussions revolved around three key directives: ensuring elected representatives fulfilled their duties, strengthening UMNO’s organizational cohesion, and maintaining their roles as public servants. “We conveyed a narrative and a guideline for the 25 assemblymen to carry out their duties in their constituencies, strengthen the party, and also fulfill their responsibilities as elected representatives,” he stated.
The meeting included UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, signaling a coordinated effort to stabilize the party’s state-level operations. Jalaluddin’s remarks came as Ismail Lasim’s meeting with Tuanku Muhriz—held amid speculation over the Menteri Besar’s political standing—had reignited debates over the monarchy’s role in state governance.
For Negeri Sembilan, the meeting’s emphasis on duty over political maneuvering reflects UMNO’s attempt to depoliticize the assemblymen’s roles, though the absence of direct references to the Istana audience leaves unresolved questions about the state’s leadership stability. The next critical test will be whether the assemblymen’s renewed focus on service translates into tangible political unity ahead of potential legislative challenges.