SEREMBAN: The revocation of Negri Sembilan’s 10 exco members has become official, according to a state gazette.
Their removal, according to the Sept 24 dated state gazette, took effect on Sept 20.
The gazette was issued upon an order by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
Earlier, Mentri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim claimed that the exco members were barred from entering the state secretariat building under a verbal directive.
Tuanku Muhriz revoked the appointments of the state exco on Sept 20.
The Negri Sembilan Palace said in a statement the decision was made after the exco members were found to have violated their oath of office by their actions on Sept 15 when they agreed on the removal of Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
In a press statement issued the following day, the exco members said an April 19 proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz under Article 10 of the state laws had been signed and sealed by the lawful Undang (ruling chiefs) and became complete when Ismail signed it on Aug 3.
They said Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar was now the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, replacing Tuanku Muhriz.
At a press conference yesterday, Ismail declined to name who issued the directive to bar the exco members, with no court order or police instruction given.
He described the directive as highly inappropriate, insisting that the current exco line-up remains valid. He was also not aware of any written instruction.
He said he had access to the building, and the exco members had not been asked to return their official vehicles.
Ismail urged “the authorities” to urgently review the directive, including its basis and scope, as the dispute over the exco’s status remained unresolved.
“This request is made through proper channels, without preventing the authorities from carrying out their security responsibilities,” he added.
Ismail said preventing exco meetings would affect the public, as the council decided on development allocations and aid.
“If the decision is held up without reasonable grounds and without a court order, it is a denial of the people’s rights when we are the legitimate government,” he said.
He maintained that he had never been consulted or advised about the termination of any exco member under Article 38(5) of the state constitution.
“The existing exco is still valid and will carry out its duties as usual,” he said.
Asked about the next state assembly sitting, Ismail said no date had been fixed.
“I have not decided on the sitting because we are still within the six-month period. The assembly must sit once every six months,” he said, adding that the assembly last sat in August.
Meanwhile, state police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Alzafny Ahmad said the police controlled the state exco members’ access to their offices at Wisma Negeri to keep the peace after the palace announced the revocation of their appointments.
“This action should not be interpreted as the police taking sides or giving recognition to any party,” he said in a statement.
He said police personnel had also been deployed to Galeri Diraja Tunku Ja’afar and Balai Undang Luak Sungei Ujong, with access control at these locations based on current security assessments meant to prevent tension.
