// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Ismail Lasim a good mailman? He always delivers Ismail.

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Lasim is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Ismail.

Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Haji Ismail Lasim DSNS PMC MLA
إسماعيل لازم
9th Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 August 2026
Monarch	Muhriz
Preceded by	Aminuddin Harun
Constituency	Juasseh
Executive Council Portofolios (Negeri Sembilan)
2023–2026	Education and Human Capital Development
2013–2018	Unity and National Integration
2008–2013	Infrastructure, Water, Energy and Telecommunications
2004–2008	Public Works, Telecommunications and Posts
Member of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly for Juasseh
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 August 2026
Preceded by	Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid
Majority	4,091 (2026)
In office 9 May 2018 – 12 August 2023
Preceded by	Mohammad Razi Kail (BN–UMNO)
Succeeded by	Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid (BN–UMNO)
Majority	692 (2018)
Member of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly for Senaling
In office 12 August 2023 – 1 August 2026
Preceded by	Adnan Abu Hassan (BN–UMNO)
Succeeded by	Qayyum Abd Jalil (BN–UMNO)
Majority	662 (2023)
In office 29 November 1999 – 9 May 2018
Preceded by	Zainal Mokhtar Mohd Yunus (BN–UMNO)
Succeeded by	Adnan Abu Hassan (BN–UMNO)
Majority	1,027 (1999) 2,516 (2004) 2,014 (2008) 2,151 (2013)
Personal details
Born	Ismail bin Lasim (1960-04-15) 15 April 1960 Kampung Tebing Tinggi, Juasseh, Negeri Sembilan, Federation of Malaya
Citizenship	Malaysia
Party	UMNO
Other political affiliations	National Front (Barisan Nasional; BN)
Spouse	Noraishah Othman
Education	University of Malaya (LLB)
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Lawyer

Ismail bin Lasim (born 15 April 1960) is a Malaysian politician and lawyer who is the ninth Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan since August 2026. A member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), he is the deputy chair and information chief of the party's Negeri Sembilan state liaison committee as well as division chief of UMNO's Kuala Pilah division.

Political career

Ismail was first elected as a member of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing Senaling following the conclusion of the 1999 Malaysian state elections and successfully defended the seat for the following three election cycles and also during the 2023–2026 term. Between May 2018 to August 2023, he represented Juasseh having won the constituency in 2018 and again since August 2026.

From March 2004 to May 2018, Ismail served three consecutive terms as an executive councillor (EXCO) of the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council in the National Front (Barisan Nasional; BN) administrations of seventh MB Mohamad Hasan, holding different portfolios during each of the terms.

Ismail was selected to serve as an EXCO again from August 2023 by the eighth MB, Aminuddin Harun, in the joint Alliance of Hope (Pakatan Harapan; PH)–BN government until its collapse in August 2026.

Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan

On 2 August 2026, Ismail was sworn-in as the ninth MB following the 2026 Negeri Sembilan state election at the Seri Menanti Grand Palace (Istana Besar Seri Menanti). Prior to announcing his BN–National Alliance (Perikatan Nasional; PN) executive council line-up, Ismail's appointment was questioned by one of his predecessors and chairman of PN-component National Vision Party (WAWASAN), Rais Yatim, who alleged that there was "outside interference" involved in the former's appointment. Ismail denied the allegations and instead announced that his administration may introduce deputy EXCO posts as there may not be sufficient EXCO posts (capped at ten) to offer to all the BN–PN coalition parties.

Instrument of proclamation controversy

In early September 2026, a dispute concerning an instrument of proclamation relating to the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan attracted public attention. Several traditional chiefs of Negeri Sembilan, including the Undang Yang Empat ('four territorial chiefs'), the Tunku Besar of Tampin and the Dato' Shahbandar Sungai Ujong, alleged that Ismail had signed a document concerning the removal of Tuanku Muhriz from the position of Yang di-Pertuan Besar. According to the allegations, the document was signed on 3 August during a meeting in Port Dickson. Reports concerning the document and the meeting circulated publicly on 6 September. The authenticity of the document, the circumstances surrounding its signing and its legal effect became the subject of dispute. On 8 September, Ismail and the Negeri Sembilan state government expressed their support for Muhriz and reaffirmed their loyalty to him as Yang di-Pertuan Besar. Ismail also denied that UMNO president and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was involved in any attempt to remove Muhriz. The statement followed reports linking several UMNO leaders to a meeting held at Istana Laguna Biru in Port Dickson on 3 August.

On 9 September, Ismail admitted that he had signed the instrument of proclamation but stated that he had done so unwillingly and under duress. He said that a police report had been lodged earlier to enable an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the document. Ismail also maintained that the instrument did not comply with the procedures prescribed under Article 10 of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959 and therefore could not be enforced. On 10 September, lawyers representing the Undang Yang Empat gave a different account, stating that Ismail had signed the document voluntarily and without coercion. The same day, Ismail was reported to have met Ahmad Zahid at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre during the UMNO general assembly. The meeting lasted almost two hours, although its contents were not publicly disclosed.

The controversy was accompanied by reports of a possible resignation by Ismail as Menteri Besar. On 14 September, his press secretary denied reports that he would resign. The press secretary also denied that Ismail was scheduled to hold an official meeting with Ahmad Zahid on that date. On the same day, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed that police had opened an investigation paper into Ismail's allegation that he had been coerced into signing the instrument of proclamation. The investigation was ongoing at the time. Speaker of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly Awaludin Said also stated that his office had not received any notice or proposal for a motion of no confidence against Ismail. The statement followed speculation concerning the stability of the state administration amid the dispute involving the state constitutional and customary institutions.

On 15 September, Ismail stated that the Menteri Besar did not possess unilateral authority to remove or vacate the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. He said that matters concerning the position were governed by the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959 and the principles of constitutional monarchy. The state executive council stated that the validity and effect of the instrument of proclamation would depend on its constitutional source of authority and compliance with the procedures prescribed by state law.

Election results

Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly

Year	Constituency	Candidate		Votes	Pct	Opponent(s)		Votes	Pct	Ballots cast	Majority	Turnout
1999	N14 Senaling		Ismail Lasim (UMNO)	3,097	59.94%		Baharudin Poan (PAS)	2,070	40.06%	5,332	1,027	73.18%
2004	N17 Senaling			3,860	74.17%		Zaharudin Osman (PAS)	1,344	25.83%	5,299	2,516	75.46%
2008				3,647	69.09%			1,632	30.91%	5,418	2,014	77.25%
2013				4,450	65.94%			2,299	34.06%	6,878	2,151	86.00%
2018	N15 Juasseh			4,146	50.41%		Rosli Omar (PKR)	3,454	42.00%	8,388	692	83.10%
							Hassan Mohamed (PAS)	624	7.59%
2023	N17 Senaling			3,724	54.88%		Amrina Mohammad Khalid (BERSATU)	3,062	45.12%	6,839	662	69.18%
2026	N15 Juasseh			6,907	67.52%		Mohd Aidil Abdullah (PKR)	2,816	27.53%	10,229	4,091	75.49%
							Mohd Zuhaimi Md Yusof (BERSATU)	506	4.95%

Honours

• Negeri Sembilan
  • Knight Companion of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (DSNS) – Dato' (2002)