SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan state secretary will not proceed with a directive from the state exco to gazette an April 19 proclamation on the removal of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the state Ruler.
In a statement, state secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim said this was because such an action would be invalid and unconstitutional.
He said the decision was also in line with the advice of the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) that the statement issued by members of the Negri Sembilan executive council affirming the legitimacy of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s removal as Yang Dipertuan Besar had no legal effect.
The April 19 proclamation also sought to recognise Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar with immediate effect.
"Based on the entirety of the Attorney General's Chambers' media statement on September 17, this administration accepts the advice and will not take any gazetting action or any enforcement action regarding the said proclamation, as such action would be invalid and unconstitutional," he said in a statement.
The AGC had also said the Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar and the state executive council also had no unilateral power to depose or vacate the office of Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz.
The AGC, he said, had also said the proclamation was invalid as it failed to comply with the mandatory requirements of Article 10 of the Laws of the State of Negri Sembilan 1959.
"From a legal standpoint, this administration also concurs with the view of the AGC that the members of the Negri Sembilan state exco do not possess the jurisdiction, authority, or power under the state laws to make announcements regarding the said proclamation.
"In addition, there is no legal basis for the state exco to rely on the Proclamation for their announcements," he said.
Earlier on Thursday (Sept 17), Mentri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim verified the contents of a media statement released by the state executive council on the removal of Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan.
He said Zafir has been directed to gazette the decision based on existing rules.
