Ismail no longer has full control of state administration, says former UMNO leader

Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, a former UMNO supreme council member, has stated that Negeri Sembilan's Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim no longer holds full control of the state administration. This conclusion is drawn from Ismail's recent call for authorities to review an order barring state executive councillors from entering their offices, which contradicts his earlier insistence that the revocation of the state executive councillors' appointments was invalid.

Puad emphasized that Ismail's recent position on reviewing the order indicates he no longer possesses complete authority over the state administration. Additionally, Puad raised questions about why Ismail's earlier instruction to state secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim to gazette the removal of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan was not carried out, as the revocation of the exco appointments was implemented by the state secretary instead.

Puad also criticized Ismail's flip-flopping on various matters and suggested that the party leadership, specifically Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, should intervene to resolve the crisis. Puad called for a special supreme council meeting to address the constitutional and adat issues in Negeri Sembilan and urged the party to find a more concrete solution to the crisis, taking into account the interests of the voters who elected the government in the last state election.