Negri Sembilan to proceed with 2027 Budget tabling despite Exco vacancies

SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan government will proceed with tabling the 2027 state Budget despite the state executive council positions remaining vacant, says Datuk Ismail Lasim (pic).

The Mentri Besar said the state's 25 Barisan Nasional, PAS, and Wawasan assemblymen will also convene later this month for a budget consultation session to finalise next year's spending plans.

"We are planning to have the opening of the state assembly by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar on Nov 26 followed by the tabling of the 2027 Budget the following day.

"The debates will be held over four days beginning Nov 30," he said after handing over appointment letters to 407 village development and security committee (JPKK) chairmen and secretaries here.

Ismail said it was not a must for Exco positions to be filled for the budget to be tabled.

Elaborating, he said the usual practice is for the Budget to be taken to the Exco to be endorsed after the relevant departments have given inputs.

"So, for the time being, we have roped in all the relevant government departments to provide us with feedback on the budget for next year.

"Therefore, department heads now play an important role in ensuring the operations of their departments under an Exco's portfolio run as usual," he said.

State ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir had revoked the appointments of the state's 10 Exco members after they allegedly violated their oath of office on Sept 15 by agreeing to replace him with Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar.

Their removal took effect on Sept 20.

When asked who will be officially opening the state assembly sitting on Nov 26, he merely said "We will cross the bridge when we get there."

Ismail Lasim stated that state administration and public services continue to function smoothly despite the absence of the Exco members.

Citing an example, he said the move to hand out the letters of appointment to the JPKK chairmen and secretaries was to ensure the needs of the people were continued to be looked after.

"We know the people, especially those in the lower income category, need assistance in various matters.

"Today's event is proof that we have continued to look into the wellbeing of the rakyat, including from the villages and kampung, despite the administrative problems," he said.

When asked if the new Exco members would be appointed before the tabling of the state budget, Ismail remained non-committal but said this would be done in due course.

"Like they say, let us take it one at a time.

"Today we appointed the village headmen and secretaries, and this will be followed up with Exco members," he said.

He said there was also no pressing need to fill up the Exco vacancies for now, as there were no important policy matters to be deliberated on.

Ismail also denied talk that the axed Exco members would be appointed as advisors.

"Those are rumours. We are not going to have any such advisors," he said.

To another question, Ismail said his relationship with state secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim remained good despite problems in the state.

"We will remain professional to ensure this state continues to be managed well.

"We all have our respective responsibilities and what matters most is the well-being and welfare of the state and the people," he said.

On Oct 5, the former Exco members filed a suit against Mohd Zafir and the state government over the validity of a state government gazette notification on their removal.

The 10 assemblymen are seeking a High Court declaration that the gazette published by the state secretary on the orders of the state Ruler is null, void, and entirely ineffective because it allegedly bypasses the requirements of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959.

Asked if the ongoing cases in court involving the state government and former Exco members could jeopardise the running of the state government, Ismail said there was no reason to suggest this.

"We have nothing against anyone.

"Since there is a dispute, we feel the court is the best avenue to interpret the law correctly and that is all," he added