Negeri Sembilan assembly dissolution cannot be a unilateral decision, requires royal consent, says Umno’s Khaled Nordin

KOTA TINGGI, June 2 — The dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan state assembly cannot be done arbitrarily, similar to how the Johor state assembly was dissolved yesterday, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

He said this is because the Negeri Sembilan state assembly has its own unique legal and constitutional process which is different from Johor.

“In Negeri Sembilan, no one person has the power to act in dissolving the state assembly.

“The matter first needs to be approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and also the consent from the Four Undangs,” he told reporters after a car rental and taxi drivers programme at the Kota Tinggi Bas and Taxi Terminal here today.

Khaled Nordin, who is also the Kota Tinggi MP, was responding to DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke who stated that Negeri Sembilan was ready to dissolve its state assembly next if Johor took the first step to do so.

Loke, who is the Seremban MP, was previously reported saying that Negeri Sembilan could dissolve the state assembly the next day if Johor initiated the step first.

Mohamed Khaled pointed out that any decision on the dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan state assembly required the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the four Undangs.

“In Negeri Sembilan, if both sides agree, then the dissolution process of the state assembly can take place. However, if there is a disagreement or deadlock, then a state election cannot take place,” he said.

Earlier, speculation was rife that Negeri Sembilan will follow in Johor’s footsteps to dissolve its state assembly.

It was reported that Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders and state assembly members in Negeri Sembilan held a meeting at the official residence of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun this morning, amid speculation that it could be linked to the possible dissolution of the state legislative assembly.