Negeri Sembilan MB instructs state secretary to gazette Tuanku Muhriz’s removal despite DKU objection
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has instructed the state secretary to proceed with gazetting the removal of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar, despite the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) saying the state executive council has no jurisdiction to determine the ruler’s position.
According to Free Malaysia Today (FMT) Ismail told reporters after an event in Seremban that he endorsed the statement issued by the state executive council yesterday affirming Tuanku Muhriz’s removal.
He said the exco had unanimously agreed on the position when it met on Tuesday.
Ismail said the state secretary had been asked to proceed with gazetting the proclamation on Tuanku Muhriz’s removal “according to the relevant regulations”.
Ismail declined to take further questions from reporters, FMT reported.
The exco’s statement yesterday affirmed that Tuanku Muhriz’s removal in April was legitimate and that Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar was the new ruler of Negeri Sembilan.
The development comes despite the DKU maintaining that the state executive council has no jurisdiction to determine the validity of the proclamation or the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
In a statement today, the DKU said the exco’s September 16 decision had no legal effect insofar as it purported to confirm Tuanku Muhriz’s removal, recognise a new ruler and order its immediate implementation.
The DKU maintained that Tuanku Muhriz remained the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar and that questions involving Malay adat, including the appointment and removal of the ruler, fell within its jurisdiction under the Negri Sembilan Constitution.
It also said the matter was before the High Court in Seremban and urged all parties to respect the legal process.
Meanwhile, lawyers for Tuanku Muhriz accused the state government of staging a coup by declaring his removal, saying yesterday’s statement breached interim injunctions issued by the High Court on June 5.
They said they intended to commence contempt proceedings against the state government over the alleged breach of the injunctions.
