Aide denies Ismail has resigned as Negeri Sembilan MB

An aide to Negeri Sembilan's menteri besar Ismail Lasim has refuted claims that the Umno leader has resigned from his position, just 44 days after his appointment. Fasha Musthafa, Ismail's press secretary, stated that rumors of the menteri besar's resignation are false. Moreover, Fasha denied that Ismail had met with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, asserting that no such meeting exists on Ismail's schedule for today.

Rumors of Ismail's resignation began circulating on the day he met with Zahid and Umno's three vice-presidents regarding his claim of being coerced into signing a proclamation to remove the state's ruler. Ismail, admitting to signing the document under pressure, has filed a police report to aid an investigation. The seven-term assemblyman also dismissed the validity of the proclamation, which was purportedly signed by four other "chieftains".