SEREMBAN, Oct. 25 -- Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has dismissed speculation that he is stepping down, insisting that his full attention remains on preparing the state's 2027 Budget, which is expected to be tabled at the end of next month.

Responding to reports by a Chinese-language newspaper claiming he had signed a resignation letter, Ismail described the allegation as untrue.

"The report is not true. I have not resigned. I am fully focused on planning Budget 2027," he told Harian Metro (HM) when contacted last night.

Ismail said the state government was currently concentrating on formulating a budget that would benefit Negeri Sembilan's more than 1.2 million residents as well as nearly 6,000 state civil servants....