SEREMBAN: Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has no plans to propose new state executive council (Exco) members until the dispute over their appointments is resolved in court.
He said the state government was currently operating without an exco line-up.
"We have taken the matter to court, so we will wait for its decision. There may be discussions and other developments, but I am not sure," he told reporters after visiting fire victims and presenting aid at a temporary relief centre at the Kampung Sekolah community hall in Gedung Lalang Ampangan here today.
Also present were Ampangan assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohamad Rafie Abd Malek, Seremban district officials and Social Welfare Department representatives.
Ismail was responding to questions about the state administration's lack of exco members and claims that some of the former exco members might withdraw their court application.
The appointments of all 10 Exco members, who had been sworn in before the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, at Istana Besar Seri Menanti, were revoked with effect from Sept 20. The revocation was gazetted on Sept 24.
Tuanku Muhriz withdrew his consent and revoked their appointments after stating that they had breached their loyalty pledge made during their swearing-in on Aug 7.
The former Exco members subsequently filed an application in the Federal Court to challenge the decision, naming the Negri Sembilan state secretary and state government as respondents.
The application was filed on Oct 14 through law firm Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak.
Asked about rumours that he would resign as menteri besar, Ismail, who is also the Juasseh assemblyman, dismissed them as unfounded.
"That is just a rumour," he said, adding that certain parties were deliberately circulating the claim, particularly on social media.
On reports that some former Exco members had yet to return their official vehicles despite instructions to do so following the revocation, Ismail said he was unaware of the matter.
"I don't know. I only look after my own car," he said.
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