Report: Jalaluddin Alias to be N. Sembilan’s next MB?

Report: Jalaluddin Alias to be N. Sembilan’s next MB?

NEGRI Sembilan state UMNO chairman Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias has been speculated to be a candidate for the position of state menteri besar if the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) wins the state polls next month.

According to Utusan Malaysia, citing an unknown source close to UMNO, the former Federal Territories deputy minister could be fielded in one of the state seats within his parliamentary constituency.

“He has the right character to be the menteri besar candidate for UMNO and is ready to perform in his constituency of Jelebu,” the source was quoted as saying.

For the record, Negri Sembilan has 36 state assembly seats with 21 seats having at least a 60% Malay majority.

The source also said UMNO will contest in at least 16 seats in Negri Sembilan and has full confidence that the PH-BN alliance can defeat Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the state election on August 12.

“We are confident we can win in the three states of Penang, Negri Sembilan and Selangor meaning we will win three and PN will win three.

“We also are studying how best to convince our grassroots members to put the cross for DAP, this will take some time and must be done in a proper manner,” the source was quoted as saying.

Last Friday (July 7), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he has been happy with caretaker Negri Sembilan menteri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun’s performance for the past five years.

“We will discuss it, but I am happy and satisfied with the performance he has shown including attracting investment.

“The component parties will discuss it but we cannot discuss it now but for now Aminuddin is seen as a ‘poster boy’ because he is the state’s Menteri Besar,” Anwar was reported as saying by Sinar Harian in Seremban.

Meanwhile, DAP has confirmed that they will continue to contest in the 11 state assembly seats in the state election next month, just as they did in the previous state election in 2018.

State DAP deputy chairman P. Gunasekaran said the 11 state assembly seats are Chennah, Bahau, Nilai, Lobak, Temiang, Bukit Kepayang, Rahang, Mambau, Seremban Jaya, Lukut and Repah.

“DAP will defend those 11 seats in the next state election and we are confident that we will be able to win all the seats without any major problems.

“This is based on the results of the last 15th General Elections (GE15), showing that voter support for DAP remains consistent,” the incumbent Seremban Jaya state assemblyman was quoted as saying by Berita Harian today (July 12).

The Negri Sembilan state assembly has 36 seats. PH won 20 seats in the 2018 elections through DAP (11), PKR (six) and Amanah (three). BN secured 16 seats with 15 through UMNO and one through MIC. – July 12, 2023