KUALA LUMPUR – The unity government presidential council will discuss candidates for the Negri Sembilan menteri besar post, said Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Mohamad, who has just secured the Rantau seat in Negri Sembilan, said while he has not yet been informed of official election results, BN and its unity government partner Pakatan Harapan (PH) had already expected to retain the state with a comfortable majority.
“(Our choice of menteri besar) is up to the unity government presidential council. We will sit together and discuss who is the best candidate for the menteri besar post.
“We can only suggest a candidate we feel is suitable, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar has the right to choose a candidate who he feels is the best (for the menteri besar post),” said Mohamad, who is also defence minister.
His comments come as the unity alliance appears to be shoo-ins to form a government in the state, according to election results tallied tonight.
Besides Mohamad, state PKR chief Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke also secured assemblyman posts in the state.
In a Twitter post, Aminuddin, who is also caretaker Negri Sembilan menteri besar, said PH has won 17 out of 19 contested seats in the state while BN has secured 14 out of its 17 contested seats.
Previously, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had said Aminuddin should be retained as menteri besar to encourage closer cooperation between unity government coalition parties. – August 12, 2023