PH reps told to return allocations paid a day before Negeri Sembilan assembly dissolved

SEREMBAN, 26 AUGUST 2026 —

PH assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan ordered to return RM324,000 in state allocations

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim said the state executive council (EXCO) decided on the repayment after the matter was raised during a special sitting of the state assembly on Aug 18. The allocations, approved on June 3 and transferred on June 4, included RM174,000 for 10 PH assemblymen and RM150,000 for coordinators of Labu and Paroi constituencies. An additional RM150,000 was allocated to seven former PH EXCO members for July.

“On June 3, the state government, through the EXCO, approved allocations for PH assemblymen, and on June 4, the funds were transferred into their accounts,” Ismail said after chairing the weekly EXCO meeting at Wisma Negeri in Seremban. “However, the state assembly was dissolved on June 5.”

Ismail explained that while EXCO members, including the Menteri Besar at the time, continued performing duties until the election and were entitled to use the July allocation, assemblymen lost their entitlement once the assembly was dissolved. The Menteri Besar’s office will issue demand letters, giving those involved 30 days to repay the funds.

State EXCO member for Industry, Technology, Innovation and Digital, Asna Amin, emphasised that the allocations should not have been disbursed after the dissolution, as assemblymen were no longer serving representatives. “The funds were deposited as a lump sum into the assemblymen’s service centre accounts, but the assemblymen no longer held office at the time,” she told Free Malaysia Today.

Asna said the repayment requirement would ensure state funds were used only by those entitled, safeguarding transparency and integrity in financial management. The issue was first raised during the Aug 18 special sitting, where questions were raised over RM180,000 in allocations allegedly approved for PH assemblymen a day before the dissolution.

The development follows heightened scrutiny over post-dissolution financial transactions in Negeri Sembilan, with critics questioning the legality of allocations disbursed after the assembly’s dissolution. The state government’s decision underscores its commitment to fiscal discipline, though PH lawmakers have yet to publicly respond to the repayment order.

For Malaysia’s opposition-led states, the case highlights the complexities of managing public funds during transition periods. Negeri Sembilan, governed by PH since 2018, has faced political turbulence since the dissolution, with the state election held on Aug 15 resulting in a hung assembly. The Pakatan Harapan coalition secured 17 seats, while Barisan Nasional won 14, with two independent candidates holding the balance of power.

The repayment demand could set a precedent for other states, particularly those governed by opposition coalitions, where post-dissolution financial decisions may face similar scrutiny. Analysts suggest the move may reinforce public trust in state financial governance but could also strain relations between the state government and former assemblymen.

Moving forward, the Negeri Sembilan government is expected to tighten procedures for disbursing state allocations, particularly around dissolution periods. Ismail indicated that future allocations would adhere strictly to constitutional and procedural requirements to prevent similar controversies.

Details not yet available on whether the affected PH assemblymen and coordinators intend to comply with the repayment order or challenge it legally. The state government has not disclosed whether legal action will be taken against non-compliance.

Related: Wisma Negeri · Seremban