"I am still the menteri besar,' says Ismail amid replacement speculation

SEREMBAN: Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has declined to comment on speculation that he would be replaced by Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias.

Ismail, who is also Juasseh assemblyman, said that he remained the menteri besar and that there was no question of him stepping down from the post.

"As of today, I am still the menteri besar," he said briefly after attending the Little India Deepavali Bazaar Carnival last night.

He was responding to questions about claims linking Jalaluddin, who is Pertang assemblyman, to the state's top post.

Ismail also declined to comment on the opposition's claim that the state legislative assembly sitting scheduled for Nov 26 might be postponed.

"Let's not get into that. This time, let's celebrate Deepavali first," he said, urging all parties to focus on the Deepavali celebrations.

Meanwhile, Ismail said the state government had allocated RM70,000 for the Little India Deepavali Bazaar Carnival, which included contributions to the Indian community in rural areas.

He said the state government planned to discuss gazetting the Little India area to attract tourists.

"This matter will be discussed in detail with the Seremban City Council mayor, as the proposed area extends about 100m to 400m beyond the original site and has the potential to become a tourist attraction," he said.

He said about 7,000 visitors were expected to attend the Negri Sembilan-level Deepavali open house at the Seremban City Council hall on Nov 14, from 11am to 4pm.

He said a variety of dishes representing the state's diverse communities and cultures, particularly traditional Indian food, would be served to allow visitors to enjoy a range of delicacies in a spirit of goodwill.

"The state government invites all Negri Sembilan residents to attend the Deepavali celebrations in large numbers to foster goodwill among the community.

"Our aim is to ensure that every celebration is held in a lively, harmonious and joyful atmosphere, strengthening ties among communities and reinforcing the unity that already exists," he said.

In a separate development, he said a proposal to gazette the Dato Lee Fong Yee area as Seremban's Little India would be discussed in detail with the Seremban City Council mayor.