NEGERI Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has no plans to appoint new state executive councillors while the legal dispute over the cancellation of the previous appointments remains unresolved.
He said the state government would remain without an Exco line-up for the time being as the matter had been brought to court.
“We have taken the matter to court, so we will wait for the court’s decision. There may be discussions and so on, but I am not sure,” he told reporters after visiting fire victim at the temporary relief centre at Balai Raya Kampung Sekolah in Gedung Lalang Ampanganin Seremban today.
Also present were Ampangan assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohamad Rafie Abd Malek, Seremban district officials and Social Welfare Department officers.
Ismail was responding to questions about the state administration’s continued absence of an Exco line-up, as well as speculation that some of the former councillors might withdraw their court application.
The appointments of all 10 Exco members were revoked with effect from Sept 20, with the decision gazetted on Sept 24.
Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir withdrew his consent to their appointments after stating that the councillors had breached their oath of loyalty, taken on Aug 7.
The 10 former Exco members subsequently filed an application in the Federal Court on Oct 14 to challenge the decision, naming the Negeri Sembilan state secretary and the state government as respondents.
The application was filed through law firm Tetuan Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak.
Separately, Ismail dismissed speculation that he would resign as menteri besar, describing it as a rumour being circulated by certain quarters, particularly on social media.
“That is a rumour,” said Ismail, who is also the Juasseh assemblyman.
Asked about reports that some former Exco members had yet to return their official vehicles despite instructions issued following the revocation of their appointments, he said he was unaware of the matter.
“I don’t know. I only look after my own car,” he said. - October 27, 2026
