Negeri Sembilan executive council members should resign if they no longer recognise Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the state’s Yang Dipertuan Besar, says DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook.
The Seremban MP said the exco members had taken their oaths of office before Tuanku Muhriz in early August.
“If they no longer recognise him as Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, then on principle and dignity, they ought to resign their respective posts,” he said in a statement today.
Loke also said most of the exco members concerned were new to their positions, with some yet to attend a state assembly sitting in their capacity as exco members.
Loke questions exco authority
“They should have studied and understood the legal provisions and the source of their authority before issuing a statement touching on the position of the state’s reigning ruler,” he said.
Members of the Negeri Sembilan executive council yesterday issued a statement affirming that Tuanku Muhriz’s removal in April was legitimate and that Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar was the new ruler of Negeri Sembilan.
Menteri besar Ismail Lasim endorsed the statement today, saying the decision had been made unanimously when the exco convened on Tuesday.
He also said the state secretary had been asked to proceed with gazetting the proclamation on Tuanku Muhriz’s removal “according to the relevant regulations”.
DKU disputes exco decision
However, the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) Negeri Sembilan separately said the exco’s decision had no legal effect and that Tuanku Muhriz remained the legitimate Yang Dipertuan Besar.
Loke questioned the source of the exco’s authority to affirm the April 19 proclamation, saying it could not override the state constitution or resolutions of the DKU.
“The Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan cannot be arbitrarily deposed without a valid process under the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan,” he said.
“The exco’s action in making such an announcement has caused confusion, undermined the state administration’s discipline, and tarnished the dignity of the institution of the Yang Dipertuan Besar.”
