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SHAH ALAM – Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ismail Lasim needs to explain five key questions concerning his change in position over the proclamation concerning the removal of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Negeri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
PKR Central Leadership Council (MPP) member Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz says the questions arise from a contradiction between Ismail’s position on Sept 6, when he still expressed full support and loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz, and the claim that the proclamation he signed on Aug 3 was made under duress.
He said the matter should be clarified first before Ismail elaborates further on adat, the Constitution, the people’s mandate and jurisdiction, as stated in his seven-page statement.
“Therefore, before discussing anything else, the Menteri Besar needs to answer these five questions. First, is it true that you were forced to sign the proclamation on Aug 3? Second, if so, who forced you?”
“Third, if on Sept 6 you were still expressing full support and loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz, and on Sept 9 claimed that the proclamation had been signed under duress, what changed that led the Exco to take the position on Sept 15 that the proclamation was valid?” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Tengku Zafrul said the fourth question that needed to be answered was what caused the change in position, including whether Ismail had also faced pressure or coercion, as alleged when he signed the proclamation.
“Fifth, if there was pressure to change your position, who was involved and whom did you meet during that period?” he said.
He stressed that the questions arose from the chronology of Ismail’s actions and statements regarding the proclamation.
“This is no trivial matter. A Menteri Besar has claimed that he was forced to sign a document concerning the position of the ruler, lodged a police report over the matter, and publicly expressed his full support and loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz.
“Less than 10 days later, the government he chairs confirmed the proclamation and called for the gazettement process to proceed,” he added.
In light of this, Tengku Zafrul questioned what caused the change in position during that period.
“What actually changed between Sept 9 and Sept 15? This fundamental matter needs to be clarified first,” he stressed.
According to Tengku Zafrul, Ismail’s seven-page statement still emphasises that the government does not determine who ascends to or leaves the throne, but that the matter must go through institutions with the relevant jurisdiction.
However, he said the statement still did not explain the change in the Menteri Besar’s position, particularly what happened between those dates.
