No legal authority for Negeri Sembilan exco to suspend state secretary, state legal adviser

Wednesday 23 Sep 2026

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KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 22): The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has stated that the Negeri Sembilan state executive council (exco) has no legal authority to suspend the duties of the state secretary (SUK) and state legal adviser.

In a statement on Tuesday, the AGC said appointment matters, including the suspension of duties for both positions, fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Services Commission and the Judicial and Legal Services Commission respectively, as stipulated under Article 37 of the Negeri Sembilan State Constitution 1959 (UUTKNS).

"On the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar's Sept 22, 2026 media statement suspending the SUK and state legal adviser with immediate effect, this department is of the view that the Negeri Sembilan state executive council has no legal authority to do so," the AGC said.

The AGC added that the appointment of a new state legal adviser must comply with Article 37 of the UUTKNS, namely appointment by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission from among members of the Judicial and Legal Service.

Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim on Tuesday announced the immediate suspension of the duties of SUK Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim and state legal adviser Datuk Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal.

Ismail also announced that state financial officer Datuk Masri Razali would carry out the duties of the SUK until a new appointment is made by the chief secretary to the government.

Meanwhile, advocate and solicitor Fahmi Adilah would carry out legal advisory duties until a new state legal adviser is appointed by the AGC.

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