The Negeri Sembilan government has formally withdrawn its Sept 17 letter to the Malay Rulers regarding the royal institution, reaffirming allegiance to Tuanku Muhriz.
PETALING JAYA: The Negeri Sembilan government has formally withdrawn a letter it sent to the Malay Rulers concerning the state’s royal institution, while reaffirming its commitment to upholding the state constitution and customary practices.
Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim conveyed the decision in a two-page letter dated Nov 10 and addressed to Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad.
Ismail said the decision was reached unanimously with the 10 former state executive council members.
The letter stated that the earlier correspondence, dated Sept 17, was withdrawn following consideration of two matters: the Oct 14 statement by the Malay Rulers and a June 5 Seremban High Court order preserving the status quo concerning the position of Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.
“This decision is made to uphold the supremacy of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959, preserve the order of constitutional monarchy, and ensure the continuity of state administration runs in a peaceful and orderly manner,” the letter read.
The withdrawal reverses the state government’s position in September, when Ismail said the state executive council had endorsed an April 19 proclamation issued by the Undang of Johol and three other ruling chiefs whose status was disputed.
The proclamation sought to remove Tuanku Muhriz. Ismail subsequently wrote to the Conference of Rulers, naming Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the “new” Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
In the Nov 10 letter, Ismail and the 10 former exco members also pledged to uphold adat (custom) and respect the role and authority of the royal institution within the state’s system of governance.
They also acknowledged the Malay Rulers’ call for all differences to be resolved through lawful, authoritative and credible channels, in a civil and customary manner.
“We are of the view that efforts towards a resolution must be carried out with full responsibility, in order to maintain the harmony and stability of Negeri Sembilan and prioritise the well-being of the people,” the letter stated.
The letter was signed by Ismail and co-signed by all 10 former exco members: Datuk Mohd Faizal Ramli, Datuk Zaifulbahri Idris, Datuk Mustapha Nagoor, Siow Kong Choon, Siti Nur Umaira Hasim, Datuk Mohd Asna Amin, Datuk Mohd Razi Mohd Ali, Suhaimizan Bizar, Mohd Fairuz Mohd Isa and Datuk Razali Abu Samah.
