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KUALA LUMPUR – Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim's claim that he signed the Instrument of Proclamation unwillingly and under coercion should be verified by the lawyer who was present during the signing process.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this would be the best way to verify Ismail's claim.
The Umno president said the party would not interfere in the matter and would instead fully respect the royal institution, laws and customs of Negeri Sembilan.
"I think it would be better if the statement is verified by the lawyer himself, if the lawyer was present when the proclamation was signed, and we will hear (more), perhaps a press conference will be held very soon," he told reporters at the 2026 Umno General Assembly here today.
He was commenting on Ismail's statement claiming that he had been forced to sign the document before lodging a police report yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid also denied claims that he was present during the signing of the document.
"No, I wasn't there... he (Ismail) has already denied that I was there," he said.
The Rural and Regional Development Minister also dismissed claims that he had received Ismail's resignation letter.
Earlier, Ismail explained that the Instrument of Proclamation, which went viral through a media statement last night, had been signed unwillingly and under coercion.
Ismail said he had lodged a police report at around 6pm yesterday to enable the authorities to conduct an investigation.
