KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 25): The customary chieftains of Negeri Sembilan have accused the prime minister and the Attorney-General's Chambers of interfering in state affairs and have warned federal authorities to stay away from their row with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar over the state throne.
The four Undangs — Johol's Muhammed Abdullah, Sungei Ujong's Mubarak Dohak, Jelebu's Maarof Mat Rashad and Rembau's Abdul Rahim Yassin — and the Tunku Besar of Tampin issued a statement at a press conference on Friday in Seremban, saying that Articles 10 and 11 of the Negeri Sembilan constitution vested in them the authority to appoint and remove the state ruler.
It should be noted that the positions of Mubarak, Maarof and Abdul Rahim are also disputed.
The statement is the latest salvo in the drawn out dispute between the chieftains and Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz Tuanky Munawir over the state throne. It also signals the widening scope of a state customary dispute into the corridors of Putrajaya.
The chieftains warned Anwar against using federal agencies to disrupt the states administration.
“Do not cause turmoil in our state through federal government agencies that lead to the paralysis of the executive administration of the Negeri Sembilan government… such unconstitutional action, if continued, constitutes a breach of the prime minister's oath under the Sixth Schedule, as well as a breach of trust against Article 71 (1) and (2) of the Federal Constitution, and violates the concept of federalism,” they said.
They also warned outside parties and opposition figures against “fishing in troubled waters” or “twisting the truth”.
“No political party has the power to remove any ruler… (as) that power is vested solely in its rightful authority, and in the context of Negeri Sembilan, it falls within the power of the Undang Yang Empat.”
They denied that Tuanku Muhriz was removed by Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim and the executive council, saying such “malicious slander” was engineered for personal interests.
“They were carrying out their constitutional duties to comply with the Undangs decisions under Article 10.”
The tussle began in April when the four Undangs proclaimed the ouster of Tuanku Muhriz, citing unspecified violations of the state's Adat Perpatih. The ruler dismissed bid as invalid because Sungei Ujong's Mubarak had been sacked the year before.
The menteri besar at the time, Pakatan Harapan's Datuk Aminuddin Harun agreed with Tuanku Muhriz, leading to strained ties with governing partner Umno. The tension culminated in the dissolution of the state legislature to pave the way for an election which Umno and its allies won by a landslide.
Ismail and his 10-member exco were sworn in by Tuanku Muhriz. However, a month after taking office, they endorsed the chieftains' April proclamation to remove the ruler and recognised Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'ffar, who is Tuanku Muhriz's cousin, right to the throne.
The state secretary refused to carry out their order to gazette this decisions, saying he was advised by the Attorney General's Chambers that it was unconstitutional.
Tuanku Muhriz viewed the exco's recognition of the Undang's proclamation as a breach of their oath of loyalty to him, and sacked the council on Sunday. This decision published in the state government gazette on Wednesday.