SEREMBAN: The Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar and his executive council will face contempt proceedings for their “announcement” on the removal of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan.
Lawyers for the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) and its secretary, said their clients were shocked by the Wednesday announcement.
The DKU and secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin, had on June 5 won an ad interim injunction to preserve the status quo in the state in view of the customary and constitutional crisis in Negri Sembilan.
The High Court had issued leave for contempt proceedings on July 8 after several ousted Undang had moved to depose the Ruler.
“Our clients take the view that your announcement (on Wednesday) is violative of the injunctive orders of June 5,” the lawyers said.
They said Mentri Besar Ismail Lasim and his exco, as well as the state secretary and state legal adviser, have no jurisdiction, authority or power to do so.
The announcement, they said, was unconstitutional, void and of 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’etat 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 said the April 19 proclamation which Ismail and the others had relied on, which also stated that the Undang Yang Empat had elected Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new state ruler, was null and void as it does not satisfy the mandatory conditions set out in Article 10 of the Laws of the State of Negri Sembilan 1959.
The lawyers said Ismail, on behalf of the state exco, had also issued a media statement on Tuesday confirming the Mentri Besar has no unilateral power to remove or vacate the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
“As such, our clients intend to commence contempt proceedings against you for breaches of the injunctive orders of June 5, 2026,” they added.
“The ‘appointment’ of a new Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan during the pendency of the injunctive orders is a violation.
“You are also undoubtedly aware that on July 8, the High Court granted our clients leave to commence committal proceedings against them (the plaintiffs) for breach of the injunctive orders dated June 5, 2026.”
