Ten Negeri Sembilan state executive councillors have had their appointments revoked by Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, days after they unanimously backed a proclamation seeking his removal from office.
The palace said the exco members had breached their oath of office and allegiance through their actions and statements on September 15.
The latest move marks another escalation in a royal dispute that has already brought down a state government, triggered a snap election and now threatens to disrupt the administration that emerged from it.
The current crisis began in April, when Negeri Sembilan's four Undang proclaimed that Tuanku Muhriz had been removed as Yang Dipertuan Besar and named Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar as his successor.
The move was rejected by the then Pakatan Harapan-led state government, which maintained that Tuanku Muhriz remained the legitimate ruler.
The dispute contributed to the collapse of the previous state administration and the dissolution of the state assembly in June, paving the way for a snap election on August 1. The royal deadlock had already become a major issue surrounding the election.
Barisan Nasional won 18 of the 36 state seats in the election, while Pakatan Harapan won 11 and Perikatan Nasional seven. Ismail Lasim subsequently became Menteri Besar and was sworn in before Tuanku Muhriz on August 2.
But the royal dispute resurfaced less than two months later.
On September 15, the new state executive council unanimously approved the proclamation concerning Tuanku Muhriz's removal.
Ismail confirmed two days later that the decision had been made collectively by all exco members and that the State Secretary had been instructed to begin the gazettement process.
The exco subsequently said the April 19 proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz was valid and called for Tunku Nadzaruddin to be recognised as the new Yang Dipertuan Besar.
The move was immediately challenged.
The Attorney-General's Chambers said the proclamation was invalid and that the Menteri Besar and state executive council did not have unilateral power to terminate or vacate the office of the Yang Dipertuan Besar.
It said the validity and effect of the proclamation must instead be determined through lawful constitutional and legal processes.
The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang, Negeri Sembilan's customary council, likewise maintained that Tuanku Muhriz remained the lawful ruler and said the state executive council had no jurisdiction to determine the validity of the proclamation.
Against that backdrop, the palace announced on Sunday that Tuanku Muhriz had revoked the appointments of all 10 state executive councillors with immediate effect.
The palace said the exco members had taken their oath of office and signed their pledge of allegiance before Tuanku Muhriz on August 7, before being appointed to the state executive council.
According to the palace, the oath included pledges of allegiance to the ruler and royal institution, to protect the sovereignty of the state constitution and to acknowledge the authority of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang.
It said their actions and statements on September 15 constituted a breach of that oath.
Under Article XXXVIII(5) of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution, an executive councillor other than the Menteri Besar holds office at the pleasure of the Yang Dipertuan Besar, the palace said.
The 10 affected exco members are Mohd Faizal Ramli, Mustapha Nagoor, Zaifulbahri Idris, Siow Kong Choon, Siti Nur Umaira Hasim, Mohd Asna Amin, Mohd Razi Mohd Ali, Suhaimizan Bizar, Mohd Fairuz Mohd Isa and Razali Abu Samah.
Ismail remains Menteri Besar and is now required to submit a new list of candidates for the state executive council for Tuanku Muhriz's consideration and consent.
The palace said Ismail is also expected to ensure that the state administration continues without disruption and in accordance with the state constitution, with the interests of the people safeguarded during the transition.
For a state that went to the polls only last month after a royal dispute helped bring down its previous government, the latest confrontation means the question of who holds legitimate authority in Negeri Sembilan remains unresolved and has now moved directly into the functioning of its new state administration.