SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar and Pakatan Harapan state chairman Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the appointment of two senators from the state was not decided by him or senior executive council member Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias.
He said the appointments were instead determined by the party’s top leadership.
“We referred the matter to our party presidents, so to me, it was a decision that had already been made and had also received approval, and that is what has taken place,” he told reporters outside the State Legislative Assembly building here.
He was commenting on remarks made by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is also Rembau member of parliament and Rantau assemblyman, and who expressed disappointment over the distribution of political positions in Negri Sembilan, which he claimed was not in line with the spirit of cooperation practised at the federal level.
During the Negri Sembilan legislative assembly sitting, Mohamad voiced his disappointment, describing the allocation of senator posts as neither fair nor balanced compared with the practice in the unity government cabinet, given that the state government was jointly formed by PH and Barisan Nasional.
It is understood that the two senators appointed and confirmed at the previous state legislative assembly sitting were Dr Jufitri Joha from PKR and Datuk Wu Him Ven from DAP.
Aminuddin said the matter should not arise, as it had also been fully agreed upon by the assembly members.
“When the vote was held the other day, all assemblymen from PH and BN supported it because it was the decision of the presidents,” he said.
Commenting further, he said he believed the party’s top leadership would be open to discussions when vacancies for such positions arise in the future.
He also said the close relationship between PH and BN, especially at the grassroots level, has continued to improve after three years of the unity government at the federal level and more than two years in Negri Sembilan.
“Although there were some issues at the beginning, the relationship between PH and BN has improved, including between Umno and DAP themselves, as they respect one another, including in meetings that are held.
“Taking this into account, as menteri besar I am very grateful, as they are doing their best.
“I see that the good relationship between PH and BN/Umno has reached the grassroots. I hope it will continue even if there are some who are slightly dissatisfied.
“We may not achieve 100 per cent harmony, but I am confident that if we understand the meaning of friendship, it will not cause major issues,” he said, adding that this good relationship was also evident during the state legislative assembly sitting as it involved matters concerning the people’s interests.
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