By The Straits Times | Created at 2026-08-02 08:06:34 | Updated at 2026-08-03 11:32:24
1 day ago
KUALA PILAH, Negri Sembilan – Juasseh assemblyman Ismail Lasim has been sworn in as the new chief minister of Negri Sembilan.
The 67-year-old veteran UMNO politician, who is also Kuala Pilah UMNO chief, was sworn in before the state ruler, Yang di-Pertuan Besar Muhriz Munawir, at Istana Besar Seri Menanti on Aug 2.
In the last state government, Ismail, who is Negri Sembilan UMNO information chief, held the education and human capital portfolio.
He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Universiti Malaya.
Ismail served as Senaling assemblyman from 1999 to 2018 and again from 2023 to 2026.
From 2018 to 2023, he served as Juasseh assemblyman.
In the Aug 1 state election, he defeated Pakatan Harapan’s Mohd Aidil Abdullah and Bersatu’s Mohd Zuhaimi Md Yusof in a three-cornered fight.
Ismail secured 6,907 votes against 2,816 obtained by Mohd Aidil and 506 won by Mohd Zuhaimi.
Ismail, Negeri Sembilan’s ninth chief minister, has declared Aug 3 a state holiday, saying he had received the consent of the state ruler to declare the holiday.
“This is to express our gratitude to all who had participated and worked hard during the recent campaign for the state election,” he told reporters.
Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional secured a majority of the seats in the Negri Sembilan state polls.
The Election Commission’s official results showed Barisan won 18 seats, with UMNO securing 16 and Malaysian Chinese Association two, while Perikatan won seven seats, comprising four won by Parti Islam SeMalaysia and three by Parti Wawasan Negara.
Pakatan Harapan won 11 seats, with the Democratic Action Party taking nine and Parti Keadilan Rakyat the remaining two. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
