Negeri Sembilan has barely emerged from weeks of public uneasiness over a highly publicised royal dispute. Just when many had hoped the state could finally move forward after the Aug 1 election, another controversy has surfaced – this time over the appointment of the new menteri besar.

First, there was the royal rumble. Now comes the MB rumble.

Ironically, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim appeared to have predicted such a situation long before polling day.

Campaigning in Negeri Sembilan on July 23, the Pakatan Harapan chairman mocked his political opponents by saying they were already fighting among themselves over who would become menteri besar even before the election was over.

“Look at the other side. How many of them are already competing for the menteri besar’s post? Even before the election, they are fighting over it, and they will probably continue to do so afterwards,” Anwar remarked.

His words have turned out to be remarkably prophetic.

Although Datuk Ismail Lasim has now been sworn in as Negeri Sembilan’s new menteri besar, the controversy has clearly not ended. Questions over the appointment process continue to dominate headlines, while those who had expected another candidate to be chosen have shown little enthusiasm in accepting the outcome.

Perhaps the most telling image during the swearing-in ceremony was not who attended – but who did not.

The conspicuous absence of leaders believed to support another candidate spoke louder than any public statement. Politics, after all, often communicates more through silence than speeches.

Whether their absence reflected disappointment, protest or merely personal reasons is for them to explain. But public perception is often shaped by symbolism, and the symbolism was impossible to ignore.

That is unfortunate. The people of Negeri Sembilan have just completed a hard-fought election. The last thing they need now is another round of political infighting.

Governments are elected to govern, not to spend precious weeks settling internal rivalries.

Political stability is not merely about having sufficient numbers in the legislative assembly. It is equally about presenting a united administration capable of making decisions, implementing policies and reassuring investors that the government is functioning smoothly.

Every day spent quarrelling over positions is a day lost in serving the rakyat.

Negeri Sembilan has already endured considerable public attention following the recent royal controversy involving the palace. Regardless of where one stood on that issue, it generated unnecessary anxiety among the people and attracted national attention to matters few had expected to become public.

Now, before the dust has even settled, another institutional controversy has emerged.

The state does not deserve to become known as the place where one political or constitutional dispute follows another. It deserves better.

The appointment of a menteri besar is never simply about one individual. It is about the stability of the government, the confidence of civil servants, the trust of investors and, above all, the welfare of the people.

Those disappointed by the outcome have every democratic right to feel aggrieved. Politics is full of winners and losers, even within the same coalition.

But disappointment must never be allowed to evolve into open hostility. Internal disagreements should remain internal.

Public displays of division only weaken the administration and provide ammunition to political opponents who are only too happy to exploit every crack.

Datuk Ismail Lasim, for his part, has defended the appointment by stating that the process was carried out in accordance with the prescribed procedures. Unless compelling evidence proves otherwise, that explanation deserves to be respected.

Once constitutional and legal processes have been completed, political maturity demands that all parties move on.

History has shown that prolonged leadership disputes rarely produce winners. Instead, governments become distracted, policy implementation slows, public confidence declines and administrative machinery loses momentum.

Eventually, it is ordinary citizens who pay the price. So how can this MB rumble be prevented from becoming a full-blown political crisis?

Firstly, all coalition leaders must immediately close ranks behind the newly appointed menteri besar. Public declarations of support are no longer optional; they are necessary to restore confidence.

Secondly, those who were overlooked for the top post should be given meaningful responsibilities within the administration. Political inclusiveness helps reduce resentment and demonstrates that government is a team effort rather than a winner-takes-all contest.

Then, party leaders at both the state and national levels must privately address whatever grievances exist before they spill further into public view. Honest conversations behind closed doors are far healthier than endless public speculation.

Most importantly, every elected representative should remember why voters sent them to the State Assembly in the first place.

The electorate did not cast their ballots so politicians could fight over titles. They voted for a more prosperous Negeri Sembilan. Power is only meaningful when it is exercised in the service of the people.

Negeri Sembilan has long enjoyed a reputation for political moderation and institutional stability. Its unique constitutional traditions deserve respect, while its elected leaders must now demonstrate equal maturity.

The royal rumble should already have taught everyone how quickly institutional disagreements can unsettle the public.

Allowing an MB rumble to escalate would only deepen those anxieties. The election is over. The menteri besar has been sworn in.  Now is the time to govern- not to grumble.

Francis Paul Siah is a veteran Sarawak editor and currently heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at [email protected]