Negeri Sembilan’s political and royal standoff has deepened after Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim disputed the Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s decision to revoke the appointments of all 10 state executive councillors.
Ismail maintains that the 10 Exco members remain validly appointed and can continue carrying out their duties, meaning he does not intend to submit a new list of candidates to replace them.
The Menteri Besar said the state ruler cannot terminate an Exco member’s tenure without his advice or formal request, adding that he was neither consulted nor asked to advise on the termination of any of the 10 appointments.
He based his position on the Negeri Sembilan Constitution and the principles of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy governing the state administration.
Ismail said the ruler’s constitutional powers over the state government must be exercised on the advice of the Menteri Besar and Exco, except in matters where the Constitution expressly provides for discretionary powers.
He argued that Article 40(2), which sets out the Yang Dipertuan Besar’s discretionary powers, does not include the unilateral dismissal of an Exco member.
He also said Article 38(5), which states that Exco members other than the Menteri Besar hold office at the pleasure of the ruler, must be read together with Articles 38(4) and 40(1).
Based on that interpretation, Ismail said any change to the composition of the Exco during the administration requires the advice or official request of the Menteri Besar.
He therefore considers the termination of the 10 Exco appointments without his advice or request to be unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.
The palace announced the removal of all 10 Exco members on Sunday, saying they had breached their oath of office and pledge of allegiance by supporting a September 15 proclamation concerning Tuanku Muhriz’s removal as Yang Dipertuan Besar.
The palace also cited Article 38(5) in stating that Exco members, apart from the Menteri Besar, hold office at the pleasure of the ruler.
Following the revocation, the palace said Ismail must submit a new list of Exco candidates for Tuanku Muhriz’s consideration and consent.
Ismail’s latest statement challenges that instruction and creates a direct dispute over whether the 10 councillors have actually ceased to hold office.
The latest development comes amid a wider constitutional crisis over Tuanku Muhriz’s position as the Negeri Sembilan ruler.
On September 15, the state Exco unanimously supported a proclamation seeking Tuanku Muhriz’s removal and the recognition of Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as his successor.
The proclamation has since been rejected by both the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang.
The AGC said the proclamation had no legal effect and that the Menteri Besar and Exco lacked the authority to unilaterally vacate the position of the Yang Dipertuan Besar.
The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang similarly maintained that Tuanku Muhriz remains the lawful ruler and that the Exco has no jurisdiction to determine the validity of the proclamation.
With Ismail now disputing the ruler’s authority to remove the 10 councillors, the royal dispute has expanded into a question over the constitutional powers governing Negeri Sembilan’s state executive.
For now, the palace considers the 10 Exco appointments revoked, while the Menteri Besar maintains that they remain valid and can continue performing their duties.