DAP vice-chairman Syahredzan Johan and three other senior party members have urged Umno to apologise to Negeri Sembilan ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir over its alleged involvement in an attempt to remove him from the throne.
In a joint statement, the four DAP leaders described the alleged move as a serious betrayal of the royal institution and a challenge to the sovereignty of the Malay rulers.
They also said the incident had angered Tuanku Muhriz, adding that Umno had yet to apologise to the ruler despite the Negeri Sembilan government being led by an Umno menteri besar, Ismail Lasim.
The statement was issued in response to criticism by Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, who claimed that DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s resignation as transport minister appeared to question the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s constitutional power to grant pardons.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also warned that protests against former prime minister Najib Razak’s conditional pardon could be interpreted as challenging the King’s constitutional authority and an act of disloyalty.
‘It is clear who has truly challenged the sovereignty of the Malay rulers when an attempt was made, in such an outrageously disrespectful manner, to remove a state ruler,’ the DAP leaders said.
DAP challenges Umno over royal institution
‘Challenging the position of one of the Malay rulers and attempting to depose one of them is an extremely serious act. Such blatant disregard for the rule of law amounts to an act of treason that cannot be taken lightly,’ they said.
The four urged Umno leaders to seek forgiveness from Tuanku Muhriz and take responsibility for resolving the crisis allegedly caused by their own actions, instead of directing accusations at Loke.
‘Respect for the Malay rulers is not about who makes the loudest accusations against others, but about who truly upholds the constitution and the rule of law,’ they said.
The statement was also signed by DAP national publicity assistant secretary Young Syefura Othman, central executive committee member Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali and Bukit Bendera MP Syerleena Abdul Rashid.
The four also reaffirmed DAP’s respect for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s power to grant pardons under the Federal Constitution.
They said Loke’s resignation demonstrated his respect for the King’s constitutional position and his commitment to his own political principles.
Negeri Sembilan constitutional crisis
Negeri Sembilan has been embroiled in a constitutional crisis since April, when four disputed undangs, or traditional chieftains, sought to remove Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
In September, 10 state executive council members, including seven from Umno, issued a statement purportedly affirming Tuanku Muhriz’s removal. Ismail subsequently endorsed the move.
However, the decision was disputed by the state’s Dewan Keadilan dan Undang and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Tuanku Muhriz revoked the appointments of all 10 executive council members in September.
The state administration subsequently gazetted the revocations, stating that the appointments had been annulled because the members had breached their pledges of allegiance to the ruler.
