KUALA LUMPUR, July 12 — Negeri Sembilan Umno chairman Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias is rumoured to be a candidate for the next state menteri besar should the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) alliance win the August 12 election.

Citing an unnamed source close to Umno, Utusan Malaysia reported today that the Jelebu MP could be fielded in one of the state seats under his parliamentary constituency.

"He has the right character to be the menteri besar candidate for Umno and is ready to perform in his constituency of Jelebu,” the source was quoted as saying.

The source also said Umno will contest in at least 16 seats in Negeri Sembilan and is confident the PH-BN alliance can defeat Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the upcoming polls.

"We're confident we can win in the three states of Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor meaning we will win three and PN will win three. We also are studying how best to convince our grassroot members to put the cross for DAP, this will take some time and must be done in a proper manner,” the same source was quoted as saying.

But Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was reported saying in Seremban last week that he has been happy with caretaker Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun’s performance for the past five years.

He added that the incumbent Sikamat assemblyman who is also a PKR vice-president is PH’s "poster boy” for the state election, though he stopped short of naming Aminuddin as its MB candidate, saying it will be discussed with the other coalition party leaders.

Yesterday, Anwar said that the Unity Government Leadership Consultative Council had finalised the distribution of seats for the six state elections.

He said parties in the unity government would use the theme "Perpaduan Demi Kestabilan dan Kemakmuran” (Unity for Stability and Prosperity)’ in the six state elections.

Apart from the states mentioned above, the state elections are also taking place in Terengganu, Kedah and Kelantan.