KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 24): Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim refused to be drawn into questions about his loyalty to Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir and the claim he signed a proclamation to depose the ruler under duress.
At a press conference on Thursday at Klana Resort Seremban, Ismail was asked to provide an update on a police report he lodged on Sept 8 claiming he was forced to sign the document to remove the state ruler.
Ismail simply remarked that both issues had been "overtaken by events".
When pressed further for updates on the police report's status, he added: "That's an old matter. It has been overtaken by events. No comments."
Asked why he had changed his position despite previously pledging loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz, Ismail denied any shift in his stance.
"There was no change in position. It was just overtaken by events… No need to talk about it anymore," he said.
On Sept 5, the four Undangs (the customary territorial chieftains) claimed that Ismail had signed a proclamation to oust Tuanku Muhriz on Aug 3, a day after he was sworn in as menteri besar.
This follows a similar proclamation by the four chieftains in April, starting the drawn out dispute over the Negeri Sembilan throne.
It should be noted, that the legitimacy of three of the Undangs — Datuk Mubarak Thahak (Sungei Ujong), Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad (Jelebu) and Datuk Abd Rahim Yasin (Rembau) — is disputed, as the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang, the body overseeing the state's customs, had previously deposed them and installed successors.
On Sept 9, Ismail claimed he had signed the document under duress and lodged a police report on Sept 8 regarding the matter.
He said the state government considered the document invalid, unconstitutional and unenforceable.
However on Sept 17, he confirmed that the state executive council endorsed the proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz.
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