G25, a group of prominent retired civil servants, has urged Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim to resign over his handling of efforts to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
G25 said Ismail’s position as menteri besar had become untenable after he signed a proclamation concerning Tuanku Muhriz’s removal and subsequently gave conflicting explanations about the document.
The group said Ismail had taken his oath of office and pledged allegiance as menteri besar before Tuanku Muhriz on Aug 2, but signed the proclamation the following day.
G25 questions Ismail’s position
G25 said Ismail had lost credibility following his involvement in the attempt to remove Tuanku Muhriz, as well as his failure to explain who had allegedly coerced him into signing the document.
Ismail previously said he had signed the proclamation under duress and had lodged a police report over the matter. He also said the document was invalid because it did not comply with the Negeri Sembilan Constitution.
However, G25 said Ismail later took a contradictory position on the validity of the proclamation on Sept 16.
“In light of all this unacceptable behaviour, he has lost his moral authority to lead and to govern,” G25 said in a statement.
Ismail had also previously expressed support and loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
Dispute over proclamation
The dispute intensified after Ismail confirmed on Sept 17 that the state executive council had unanimously decided on a proclamation concerning Tuanku Muhriz’s removal and that the state secretary had been instructed to proceed with the gazetting process.
This followed his earlier statement that the menteri besar did not have unilateral power to remove or declare vacant the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, and that the matter had to be considered under the state constitution.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers subsequently said the Negeri Sembilan menteri besar and state executive council had no power to remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar or declare the position vacant.
Tuanku Muhriz later revoked the appointments of the 10 state executive council members.
G25 calls for firm action
G25 said a call to remove a ruler amounted to treason, which it described as a serious offence punishable under Section 121B of the Penal Code by up to 40 years in prison, as well as sedition.
It urged the authorities to take firm action against those responsible for acts it described as treason or sedition in the Negeri Sembilan royal dispute.
“The sanctity of the federal and state constitutions and the rule of law must be vigilantly upheld,” the group said.
G25 warned that otherwise there could be a gradual deterioration of law and order.
