KUALA LUMPUR – Kuala Pilah Umno Division Chief, Datuk Ismail Lasim, has been appointed as the new Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
Ismail, 67, who is also an Umno Supreme Council member, won the Juasseh state seat in the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Election yesterday.
He was also the former chairman of the Negeri Sembilan State Education and Human Capital Action Committee.
The swearing-in ceremony for the Menteri Besar’s post was held before the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, at the Balairong Seri of Istana Besar Seri Menanti here at 11.29am.
Also present at the Appointment and Swearing-in Ceremony were Tunku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani Tengku Besar Mahmud, Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz, and Tunku Panglima Besar Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin Tuanku Muhriz.
Also in attendance were Undang Luak Sungai Ujong Datuk Klana Petra Muhammad Faris Johari and Undang Luak Rembau Datuk Sedia Raja Hassan Ab Hamid.
The ceremony was also attended by Barisan Nasional (BN) Deputy Chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan as well as Negeri Sembilan state assembly members.
Ismail began his political career after being elected to the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly in 1999, embarking on what has become almost 30 years of public service in state politics.
He was first appointed to the State Executive Council in 2004 and served three consecutive terms until 2018, during which he oversaw the education portfolio and played a key role in shaping policies on education and human capital development.
Following the formation of the Unity Government after the 15th state election, the Kuala Pilah UMNO Division chief returned to the State Executive Council as Chairman of the Education and Human Capital Action Committee.
Born in Juasseh, Kuala Pilah, Ismail received his early education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Pusat Juasseh before continuing at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan King George V.
He later obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons) degree from the University of Malaya and went on to build a career as a lawyer.
He is married to Datin Noraishah Othman, and they have five children.
Beyond his experience in government, Ismail is also a seasoned Umno leader. He currently serves as Negeri Sembilan Umno Information Chief and has held various leadership positions within the party over the years.
In addition to his legal background, he has experience in corporate management, having served at the board of directors level.
Ismail first won the Senaling state seat in 1999 before successfully contesting the Juasseh seat in the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election, where he defeated Mohd Aidil Abdullah of Pakatan Harapan and Mohd Zuhaimi Md Yusof of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia with a majority of 4,091 votes.
Barisan Nasional (BN) won 18 of the state seats in the election, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) secured seven, enabling the two coalitions to form the state government with a two-thirds majority. – August 2, 2026