SEREMBAN (Sept 17): Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has confirmed that the state executive council recognises the proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, Bernama reported.
The national news agency reported the menteri besar as saying that all state executive councillors discussed the matter on Tuesday and unanimously endorsed the proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz as state ruler.
“The exco has instructed the state secretary to proceed with the gazettement of the proclamation in accordance with the existing regulations,” he told reporters after attending the Negeri Sembilan Foundation Outstanding Graduate Awards ceremony here on Thursday.
It was reported on Wednesday that the state government issued a statement endorsing the proclamations signed by the four customary chieftains (the Undangs) of Negeri Sembilan on April 19 and by Ismail on Aug 3 to remove Tuanku Muhriz.
The statement said the exco also recognised Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'ffar ascending the throne.
The tussle over the Negeri Sembilan throne started with the April 19 proclamation signed by the four Undangs.
However, the status of three of these chieftains — Mubarak Thahak of Sungai Ujong, Abdul Rahim Yasin of Rembau and Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad of Jelebu — is disputed as they have been sacked by the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) Negeri Sembilan, which is the customary council that elects the state's ruler under its Adat Perpatih system of governance. New leaders have been appointed as chieftains of these areas.
The council includes the four Undangs and other members of the state's aristocracy.
The DKU in a letter through a law firm on Wednesday accused the state executive council of treason for issuing the statement.
It said contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against the exco members for violating a June 5 court order barring any party from encroaching on the council's functions and disturbing the status quo in the state's administration until the court had ruled on the matter.
Ismail previously said he had signed the proclamation under duress and that he had no unilateral power to remove the state ruler.
The previous menteri besar from Pakatan Harapan, Datuk Aminuddin Harun, had refused to recognise the proclamation by the four Undangs, saying that it was invalid as the chieftain for Sungei Ujong had been sacked before its signing.
This resulted in tense ties with Umno, which partnered with PH in the state government at the time.
The tensions culminated in the dissolution of the state legislature to pave the way for Aug 1 snap state polls which Umno and new partner Perikatan Nasional emerged victorious.
Ismail was sworn in by Tuanku Muhriz as menteri besar on Aug 2.
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