PETALING JAYA: The Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, has openly ticked off Mentri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim, telling him to “go away”.
A video of Tuanku Muhriz admonishing Ismail has gone viral. In the video, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar is also seen telling a group of people that Ismail had written a letter to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, claiming that Tuanku Muhriz was no longer the state Ruler.
Both Tuanku Muhriz and the Mentri Besar were at the Masjid Kariah Beting in Kuala Pilah for Friday prayers.
Upon seeing Ismail, the Ruler said that as long as Ismail did not retract what he had claimed, there would be no meeting between them.
“Go away, I don’t want to see you. Okay? Do you understand?
“Am I the Yang di-Pertuan Besar or not? You said I’m not,” he said sternly.
Ismail, in response, offered a traditional gesture used when greeting royalty, known as “angkat sembah”.
The latest incident comes in the midst of the constitutional crisis in the state.
The dispute began on April 19, when four state chieftains declared Tuanku Muhriz removed and named Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as his replacement.
Ismail, who was sworn in as Mentri Besar on Aug 2, had then signed a proclamation to depose the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
On Sept 17, Ismail confirmed that the state executive council had endorsed the proclamation to remove Tuanku Muhriz.
Three days later, Istana Negeri Sembilan announced that the Ruler had revoked the appointments of all 10 executive councillors.
A lawsuit was then filed by the 10, challenging the validity of the revocation.
The matter has been fixed for hearing on Oct 21.
