Zahid tells Negri Sembilan representatives to put public welfare first

The Deputy Prime Minister said matters concerning customary law and royal institutions should be kept separate from the administration of the state government to ensure that public services were not disrupted. — Bernama pic

First Published: Monday, 19 Oct 2026 1:53 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 19 — Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has advised the coalition’s 18 Negeri Sembilan state assemblymen to stay out of matters involving customary law and the royal institution, and instead focus on the people’s welfare and fulfilling their mandate.

The Deputy Prime Minister said matters concerning customary law and royal institutions should be kept separate from the administration of the state government to ensure that public services were not disrupted.

“My advice to our BN assemblymen is not to interfere any further in matters involving the Negeri Sembilan Dewan Keadilan dan Undang and the royal institutions. We should focus on delivering services because the people elected their representatives and gave them a mandate,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the Road Safety Congress 2026 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) here today.

Also present were Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah and Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) chairman Prof Dr Wong Shaw Voon.

Ahmad Zahid said the Negeri Sembilan government was preparing a draft of the state’s 2027 Budget despite not having a full state executive council (Exco) line-up at present.

He said priority must be given to engaging with the people and addressing their problems, regardless of any issues that might arise.

“What is important is that, whatever problems arise, priority must be given to engaging with the people and addressing their concerns,” he said.

He expressed hope that cooperation between the state government and the 11 assemblymen who were not aligned with it could continue to ensure that the state administration was not left in limbo and that the government machinery could function as usual.

On political cooperation for the upcoming Melaka state election, Ahmad Zahid said he had reviewed the matter and had asked Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh to announce a decision soon. — Bernama