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SHAH ALAM – Negeri Sembilan state executive council (exco) members who no longer recognise Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan should resign, says Anthony Loke.
The DAP secretary-general said this step ought to be taken on principles and dignity, given that all the exco members involved had only recently taken their oath of office before Tuanku Muhriz in early August.
"DAP remains steadfast in adhering to the principles of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy in our country.
"The supremacy of the law and the dignity of the royal institution must be upheld and must not be toyed with for any political or personal interests," he said in a statement on Thursday.
The Negeri Sembilan State Government was reported on Wednesday to have made a collective decision that the proclamation of the removal of Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan is valid.
According to a statement, the matter was decided during the Negeri Sembilan exco meeting held on Tuesday, chaired by Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim, with Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar being recognised as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar with immediate effect.
Ismail also confirmed the proclamation, noting that the state secretary has been directed to execute the gazetting process of the proclamation in accordance with existing regulations.
Meanwhile, Loke, who is also Seremban MP questioned the actions of the exco lineup, most of whom were newly appointed, with some yet to even attend a State Legislative Assembly sitting as members of the government.
"They should have thoroughly examined and understood the legal provisions and their respective source of authority before issuing statements touching upon the position of the ruling monarch.
"The Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan cannot be deposed arbitrarily without a valid process under the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959 (UUTKNS).
"The exco's action in making such an announcement has caused confusion, disrupted state administrative order and tarnished the sanctity of the institution of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar," he said.
The former Chennah assemblyman also claimed that the exco’s decision to recognise the proclamation and a successor with immediate effect was legally baseless and could even be regarded as treason against the ruling monarch.
He noted that an exco decision cannot, on its own, override the UUTKNS or the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU).
"Had such an action been carried out by an exco lineup when Negeri Sembilan was governed by Pakatan Harapan, those who routinely exploit 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues to blame DAP would undoubtedly have condemned it relentlessly," he added.
