KUALA LUMPUR – The unrest in Negri Sembilan PKR is due to a select few who have been unable to personally profit from Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun’s position, said his aide.
Aminuddin’s special functions officer Datuk Romli Ishak told Malaysiakini that the issue is linked to positions, power, and projects.
“The history is that there were a few people, maybe two to three who expected to be appointed as menteri besar (in 2018), but (PKR president) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim chose Aminuddin because he was a two-term assemblyman.
“He was the most senior at the time and his background was okay. That is why the party chose him.
“These people, they are expecting something. When we became the government, (they expected) to be given something like how it was during the previous (Barisan Nasional) government.
“What is the point of reformasi (reformation) then? A change of government is not just about taking over from Umno. No, we want to change the policies, approach, method, and style of governance.”
Romli added that Negri Sembilan PKR information chief Yusof Tapar had repeatedly switched between Umno and PKR. After a recent press conference held by Yusof criticising the menteri besar, Sinar Harian reported he was sacked.
Recently, four PKR assemblymen and 11 PKR state leaders said they had lost confidence in Aminuddin as state PKR chief.
Romli also previously alleged that the PKR reps who are against Aminuddin are working with Umno.
Negri Sembilan Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said yesterday his party is not interested in the goings-on within the state government components, after several PKR assemblymen were accused of conspiring with Umno to topple Aminuddin.
Mohamad is also Umno deputy president, Rantau assemblyman, and a former menteri besar of the state.
“Sorry, we in Umno and BN are not involved in any internal discord in the state PKR. That is their hal rumah tangga (household issue),” he told The Vibes via WhatsApp.
Earlier, several members of the Negri Sembilan PKR leadership claimed they no longer trust Aminuddin to lead the party in the state.
Among reasons cited by the reps include his failure to plan and strengthen the chapter ahead of the 15th general election, not paying attention to the party’s Wanita and Youth wings, and showing no effort to turn PKR into a dominant unit in Negri Sembilan.
They warned that if the situation is not resolved, Negri Sembilan PKR risks losing hold of the state come the next election.
The statement was signed by, among others, Labu assemblyman Datuk Ismail Ahmad, Sri Tg assemblyman Datuk M. Ravi, Ampangan assemblyman Datuk Mohamad Rafie Ab Malik, Chuah assemblyman Datuk Yek Diew Ching, Negri Sembilan Wanita PKR chief Amni Idris, state information chief Yusuf Tapar, and several party Youth leaders.
The four assemblymen later issued a separate statement clarifying that the issue of the PKR grassroots losing faith in Aminuddin is an internal party affair, amid concerns that their earlier statement could undermine the stability of the PH-led state government.
Presently, PH only has a slim majority over BN in the state assembly with 20 lawmakers, six of whom are from PKR. Meanwhile, DAP has 11 and Amanah has three.
BN has 16 representatives – Umno with 15, MIC with 1. – The Vibes, September 9, 2021
