Negeri Sembilan undangs tell PM, AGC to stay out of state affairs

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Negeri Sembilan’s four undangs and the Tunku Besar of Tampin have called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to refrain from intervening in the state’s affairs, particularly those involving their constitutional prerogatives.

In a press conference in Seremban today, the group said Articles 10 and 11 of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959 vested the Undang Yang Empat with exclusive authority to appoint and remove the state ruler, Free Malaysia Today reported.

They also cautioned Anwar against using federal agencies in ways that could disrupt the administration of Negeri Sembilan.

“Do not overstep your bounds or intrude where you are not wanted. Do not sow disorder in our state using federal government agencies to paralyse the state government.

“Do not, merely for political gain or influence, or by yielding to pressure from certain quarters, act without reason and conscience, and in doing so violate the principle of constitutional supremacy.

“Do not act beyond your authority and interfere in matters that do not concern you,” they said.

The group said any action they considered unconstitutional would amount to a breach of the prime minister’s oath under the Sixth Schedule of the Federal Constitution, as well as a breach of trust under Article 71(1) and (2) and the principle of federalism.

They also turned their attention to outside parties, especially opposition political parties, warning them against “fishing in muddied waters” or “twisting the facts” through disparaging remarks about the state government and adat, or customs.

“No political party has the power to remove any ruler,” they said. “That power is vested solely in its rightful authority, and in the context of Negeri Sembilan, it falls within the power of the Undang Yang Empat.”

The group said Negeri Sembilan’s customs had been practised for more than 500 years and maintained that their role as custodians of those traditions gave them the best understanding of them.

“Only the jeweller knows the gem,” they said.

They further maintained that selecting and removing the Yang di-Pertuan Besar was a customary prerogative protected by Articles 7, 10 and 11 of the state constitution.

The undangs also rejected claims that Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim and the state executive council were responsible for Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s purported removal, describing the allegation as “malicious slander” driven by the personal interests of certain groups.

According to them, Ismail and the exco members were only fulfilling their constitutional obligation to act on the undangs’ decision under Article 10.

The statement came from Undang of Johol Datuk Muhammed Abdullah and was jointly issued with Datuk Mubarak Dohak, Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad and Abdul Rahim Yasin, whose positions as the Undangs of Sungei Ujong, Jelebu and Rembau are disputed.

The statement follows Anwar’s criticism on Wednesday of Ismail and the former exco over several issues concerning the royal institution that had become contentious in the state.

The exco had earlier, on September 16, said Tuanku Muhriz’s removal as Yang di-Pertuan Besar in April was legitimate and declared Tunku Nadzaruddin the new ruler of Negeri Sembilan, with Ismail endorsing the position the following day.

The state’s Dewan Keadilan dan Undang subsequently disputed that position, saying the exco’s decision carried no legal effect and that Tuanku Muhriz remained the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

The dispute intensified on September 17 when the AGC said the proclamation seeking to remove Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar was invalid, rejecting it alongside the exco’s subsequent endorsement of the proclamation.

The AGC also said the menteri besar and the exco members at the time could not act on their own to remove the state ruler.

Three days later, Tuanku Muhriz withdrew the appointments of all 10 exco members, with breaches of their oaths of office cited as the reason.