‘The institutions and establishment in Negeri Sembilan must also be respected’
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said neither he nor Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim had been summoned to an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir amid the ongoing dispute in the state.
“No. Neither I nor the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar was ever summoned to an audience. We only knew about it through the media,” he told reporters after officiating the University Research and Innovation Investment Summit 2026 here today.
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Zahid said matters concerning the ongoing controversy in Negeri Sembilan should be resolved properly within the state.
He said issues involving the interpretation of the law and the exercise of powers should not be viewed solely from a legal perspective, but should also take into account the need to respect the institutions and established structures in the state.
“As far as I am concerned, matters involving legal interpretation and powers are not merely about legal interpretation.
“The institutions and establishment in Negeri Sembilan must also be respected,” he said.
The remarks came after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had an audience with Tuanku Muhriz at Istana Negeri Sembilan in Changkat Persekutuan yesterday.
Anwar arrived at the palace at about 6pm and left about an hour later. Bernama reported that the audience was believed to have followed Tuanku Muhriz’s decision to revoke the appointments of the state executive councillors (Exco).
Earlier reports had indicated that Zahid and Ismail were also expected to have an audience with the ruler.
However, Zahid said today that neither he nor Ismail had been summoned.
On Tuesday, Tuanku Muhriz revoked the appointments of the Negeri Sembilan Exco members with immediate effect.
According to a statement by the Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Negeri Sembilan Datuk Azizi Mohamad Ali, the decision followed a finding that the Exco members had breached their oath of office.
The palace cited Article XXXVIII(5) of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959, which states that an Exco member, other than the Menteri Besar, holds office at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. It also said Ismail was required to submit a new list of Exco candidates for the ruler’s consideration and consent under Article XXXVIII(2).
However, Ismail subsequently maintained that all 10 members of the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council remained validly appointed and could continue carrying out their duties, saying there was no need to submit a new list.
He said this was based on his interpretation of the Constitution of the State of Negeri Sembilan 1959, particularly provisions concerning executive powers and the position of the Exco.
