Home Minister confirms police investigating Negeri Sembilan MB Ismail Lasim’s duress claim

The Negeri Sembilan state’s legal council has been directed to submit a police report in response to a statement signed by six individuals calling for the removal of the state ruler, Tuanku Muhriz. The council's secretary declared that four of the signatories were not in the positions they claimed when they endorsed the statement on September 5.

According to the council, the signatories' actions could be deemed treason, as they attempted to remove the monarch without meeting the necessary requirements outlined in Article 10(1) of the state constitution. The police report aims to initiate criminal investigations into the matter. The council emphasized that Tuanku Muhriz's position as the state ruler remains unaffected, as there was no valid process for him to relinquish the office.

Additionally, the council rejected the establishment of a peace committee to address the adat issue, stating that the responsibility for resolving such matters lies solely with the council under Article 16 of the Negeri Sembilan constitution. The council will seek official clarification from the state government regarding the peace committee's mandate.

Despite the state executive council's meeting on September 8 to establish the peace committee, state Chief Minister Ismail Lasim and the government affirmed their unwavering support for Tuanku Muhriz as Negeri Sembilan's Yang DiPertuan Besar. The state secretary had previously claimed to have signed a proclamation ordering the ruler's removal under duress, but a legal representative of the four purported Negeri Sembilan chieftains refuted this claim, labeling it as a mere afterthought.