SEREMBAN: The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) and its secretary intend to initiate contempt proceedings against Mentri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim and members of the state executive council over their statement on Wednesday (Sept 16) concerning the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan.
Lawyers representing the DKU and its secretary said their clients were shocked by the statement, which declared that the earlier proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar was valid.
They said Ismail, the state executive council, state secretary and state legal adviser had no jurisdiction, authority or power to make such a declaration.
The lawyers maintained that the announcement was unconstitutional, void and had no legal effect.
"It is our clients' firm view that your conduct in issuing the announcement is to subvert the executive authority of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir under the Laws of the State of Negri Sembilan 1959, and is further intended to overthrow and dethrone Tuanku Muhriz.
"Your conduct is tantamount to a coup d'état and an act of treason, which should be punishable under the Penal Code and all other relevant laws," they said in a letter to the parties concerned.
The lawyers also argued that the April 19 proclamation relied upon in Wednesday’s announcement was null and void as it did not satisfy the mandatory requirements under Article 10 of the Laws of the State of Negri Sembilan 1959.
That proclamation purportedly removed Tuanku Muhriz and stated that the Undang Yang Empat had elected Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar as the new state ruler.
The lawyers pointed out that Ismail had, on behalf of the state executive council, issued a statement on Tuesday acknowledging that the Mentri Besar had no unilateral power to remove or declare vacant the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
Ismail had also said the validity and effect of the purported proclamation should be determined through the proper constitutional and legal processes, including judicial determination.
The lawyers said Wednesday’s announcement was also in breach of injunctive orders issued by the High Court on June 5.
"Our clients take the view that your announcement is violative of the injunctive orders of June 5 for the same reasons for which the High Court issued leave for contempt proceedings on July 8, 2026.
"As such, our clients intend to commence contempt proceedings against you for the abovementioned breaches of the injunctive orders of June 5, 2026," they said.
They said the June 5 orders restrained the Undang Yang Empat and two others from taking steps or making decisions concerning the administration, governance, proceedings, authority and affairs of the DKU.
The lawyers argued that the purported appointment of a new Yang di-Pertuan Besar while those orders remained in force amounted to a breach of the injunction.
They also noted that the High Court had on July 8 granted their clients leave to commence committal proceedings against the parties concerned over the alleged breach of the June 5 orders.
