Negeri Sembilan exco suspends state secretary and state legal adviser

Wednesday 23 Sep 2026

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KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 22): The Negeri Sembilan executive council on Tuesday unanimously decided to suspend the state secretary and state legal adviser, said Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim.

The announcement to suspend state secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim and state legal adviser Datuk Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal comes amid a dispute over the status of the Negeri Sembilan exco and is the latest twist in the tussle over the Negeri Sembilan throne.

Following the suspensions, state financial officer Datuk Masri Haji Razali will assume the duties of state secretary until a replacement is named by the chief secretary to the government.

The duties of the state legal adviser will be carried out by lawyer Fahmi Adilah until the Attorney General's Chambers names a replacement.

Ismail reiterated that "all positions of the state executive council members remain intact and valid" and that the state government will continue to operate as usual.

The row over the Negeri Sembilan throne between Negeri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir and the four undangs — the state's customary chieftains — has dragged on for months and drawn in political players.

On Monday, Tuanku Muhriz sacked the entire state exco except for Ismail, saying the council members had breached their oaths of office according to Article 38(5) of the state constitution.

The state ruler also ordered the menteri besar to submit a new line-up of councillors.

The same day, Ismail said the sackings were unconstitutional as Tuanku Muhriz should have acted only after consulting the menteri besar, which was not done.

Later, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had an audience with the state ruler but declined comment when asked by journalists.

The dispute started in April, when the four undangs said that Tuanku Muhriz had been deposed.

The state ruler dismissed the validity of the proclamation, saying that one of the undang had been sacked prior to that.

The four undang in June installed Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar as Yang di-Pertuan Besar, despite a court injunction preserving the status quo until jurisdictional and justiciability issues are addressed.

The menteri besar at the time, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun from Pakatan Harapan, also refused to recognise the proclamation, leading to friction with state government partner Umno.

This friction culminated with the dissolution of the state legislature to pave the way for an election on Aug 1.

The Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition and allies Perikatan Nasional, led by PAS, won 25 of the 36 seats in the state assembly.

Tuanku Muhriz swore in Ismail, from Umno, as menteri besar on Aug 2, followed by the 10-member exco on Aug 7.

The dispute appeared to have calmed down until a proclamation declaring the ouster of Tuanku Muhriz was unveiled by the four undangs at a press conference on Sept 5.

The proclamation was signed by Ismail, though he later claimed that he did so under duress and said the document was invalid.

However, the state government on Sept 17 issued a statement recognising Tunku Nadzaruddin, who is Tuanku Muhriz's cousin, and ordered the state secretary to gazette the proclamation.

The state secretary refused to do so, saying it is unconstitutional, a view shared by the AGC.

Edited BySyed Azahedi

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