Exco still valid: Negeri Sembilan MB faces off with Tuanku Muhriz

KUALA LUMPUR — Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has refuted the order by the state’s monarch, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, to sack the state executive council (Exco), placing the administration in a face-off with the palace.

Ismail in a statement today said Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz had no authority to do so without the advice of the Menteri Besar, based on the principles guiding the state’s constitutional monarchy.

“Removal of an exco member without the advice or by the request of the Menteri Besar is a unlawful, unconstitutional and has no force of law.

“The Menteri Besar was never referred to at any time to advise on the removal of any of the state exco members,” Ismail said.

His statement follows the declaration by Istana Besar Seri Menanti Comptroller Datuk Azizi Mohamad Ali last night that each Exco member had been individually served with a letter of dismissal.

The Exco, which had just taken their oath of office on August 7 following the state election, had on September 15 endorsed a proclamation by the state’s territorial chieftains (Undang Yang Empat) to remove Tuanku Muhriz and instal Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

Tuanku Muhriz’s directive to revoke the appointments of all state executive council also ordered Ismail to immediately present new candidates for the Exco for the ruler’s consideration and consent.

Ismail, however, today said Tuanku Muhriz had not acted in accordance with the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959.

The Menteri Besar said Article 40(1) of the state constitution required Tuanku Muhriz to act based on the advice of the Menteri Besar and the Exco in matters of executive administration.

As such, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar had no constitutional authority to decide on the removal of the Exco, Ismail said.

“There is no necessity for the Menteri Besar to present a new list of Exco candidates, as the current Exco members are still valid and will continue their duties as usual,” he added.

Tuanku Muhriz’s position as Yang di-Pertuan Besar was affirmed by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) last week, with the AGC saying the proclamation to remove was invalid and did not comply with the mandatory requirements of Article 10 of the state constitution.

The AGC also said that Ismail Lasim and the state Exco had no unilateral power to terminate or vacate the position of the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

The state Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) also affirmed that Tuanku Muhriz remains the legitimate Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and Chairman of the DKU.

Since April, the state’s four territorial chieftains have sought the removal of Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar over an unspecified breach of conduct.

The previous state administration under Pakatan Harapan (PH), prior to the state election on August 1, did not recognise the authority of one of the chieftains due to a prior dispute, and rejected their bid to remove Tuanku Muhriz.

The PH state administration’s handling of the royal matter was cited by Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen as their reason for withdrawing support for then Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, eventually leading to the election which BN won in alliance with Perikatan Nasional. - September 21, 2026

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