Negeri Sembilan Ruler revokes exco appointments over breach of oath, orders MB to propose new line-up

SEREMBAN, Sept 21 — Negeri Sembilan’s Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir has revoked the appointments of the state’s executive councillors with immediate effect, saying they breached their oath of office through their actions and statements on September 15.

In a statement last night, Istana Besar Seri Menanti said a member of the State Executive Council holds office at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar under Article XXXVIII(5) of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959.

“His Royal Highness the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus has revoked the appointment of Members of the State Executive Council, Negeri Sembilan with immediate effect for violating their oath of office,” the statement said.

The palace said the exco members had taken and signed their oath and pledge of allegiance before Tuanku Muhriz on August 7, before their appointments to the council.

It said they had pledged allegiance to the Ruler and the royal institution, undertaken to protect and preserve the sovereignty of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution, and acknowledged the authority vested in the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang.

“They have breached that oath by their actions and statements on September 15,” the statement said.

The September 15 meeting was the one at which the state exco unanimously decided on an Instrument of Proclamation concerning Tuanku Muhriz’s removal and instructed the state secretary to proceed with its gazettement, according to Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim. Bernama reported that the state government had collectively decided that the proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz was valid.

The palace said each affected exco member had been individually informed of the revocation in writing.

Ismail has been directed to submit a list of candidates for a new State Executive Council for Tuanku Muhriz’s consideration and consent, pursuant to Article XXXVIII(2) of the state constitution.

The Ruler also expects the menteri besar to ensure the administration of Negeri Sembilan continues without disruption in accordance with the state constitution and that the interests of the public are safeguarded, according to the statement.

The revocations come amid a constitutional dispute over Tuanku Muhriz’s position.

The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang said on September 17 that Tuanku Muhriz remained the lawful Yang di-Pertuan Besar and that there was no vacancy in the position. It also said the state exco and state government had no jurisdiction to determine the validity of the proclamation or the Ruler’s position.

The Attorney General’s Chambers later said the April 19 proclamation concerning Tuanku Muhriz’s removal was invalid because it did not comply with the mandatory requirements of Article 10 of the state constitution.

The AGC also said there was no evidence that any of the disqualification grounds under Article 10(1) applied to Tuanku Muhriz, and that the menteri besar and state exco had no unilateral power to remove him or declare the office vacant.

It said any attempt to gazette or implement the proclamation would be unconstitutional and invalid, and noted that the matter was before the High Court in Seremban, where an interlocutory injunction remained in force.