Heed ruler's decree, submit new exco line-up: N Sembilan Harapan tells MB

Negeri Sembilan Pakatan Harapan has urged Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim to heed Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s decree and submit a new list of state executive council candidates for the ruler’s consideration.

This follows a palace statement on Sept 20 announcing the immediate revocation of the appointments of 10 state executive councillors for allegedly breaching their oaths of office.

“Negeri Sembilan Harapan stresses that the menteri besar must take appropriate action in accordance with the decree by presenting a list of new exco candidates for His Royal Highness’ consideration and consent under the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959.

“No member of the state administration may choose to obey the ruler’s decree only when it aligns with their own wishes,” the coalition said in a statement today.

It added that decrees issued by Tuanku Muhriz (below) in accordance with his constitutional powers must be respected and obeyed.

The coalition also accused the 10 exco members of “total involvement” in efforts to remove Tuanku Muhriz through a process that allegedly did not comply with Articles 10(1) and 10(2) of the state constitution.

'Open treason'

According to Negeri Sembilan Harapan, the menteri besar wrote to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal on Sept 17 requesting that the Malay rulers be informed of Tuanku Muhriz’s removal and the selection of Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

It said the letter also conveyed a Sept 15 state executive council decision recognising the purported change and instructing the state administration to implement it.

Describing the alleged actions as open treason against the ruler, the state coalition called for an independent, transparent, and comprehensive investigation.

It said firm action should be taken if any laws were found to have been broken, regardless of the individuals’ positions or rank.

Why were officials suspended?

Separately, Negeri Sembilan Harapan Youth questioned the state government’s immediate suspension of state secretary Zafir Ibrahim and state legal adviser Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal as the constitutional crisis deepened.

“The questions are simple: Why were they suspended, and why now?

“Both positions play important roles in providing administrative and legal advice to the state government, particularly when Negeri Sembilan is facing a serious constitutional crisis,” it said.

While stressing that it was not alleging the pair were suspended for giving advice that displeased the government, the youth wing demanded clarification on whether the decision was linked to their professional views on the crisis.

It likened the development to the political upheaval in 2015, when then-attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail was replaced while heading a multi-agency task force investigating 1MDB.

On the same day, Muhyiddin Yassin was removed as deputy prime minister after criticising the handling of the controversy.

“Do not repeat the politics of the past. The people have the right to ask whether this political culture is recurring: when someone obstructs, questions, or provides advice that those in power do not want to hear, they are removed.

“If that is not the case, the state government must explain immediately,” it said.

The youth wings said that if either official had committed an offence or faced disciplinary issues, the government should disclose the grounds for their suspension and the process under way.

“Negeri Sembilan needs an administration that respects the law, due process and institutions - not a culture of ‘if someone gets in our way, we remove them’.

“The events of 2015 must not be repeated,” Negeri Sembilan Harapan Youth stressed.

Negeri Sembilan Harapan also earlier announced a congregational solat hajat in Seremban on Sept 24, followed by similar gatherings at the parliamentary constituency level in subsequent weeks.

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