Negeri Sembilan exco man rejects Loke’s call to resign

Negeri Sembilan state exco member Mustapha Nagoor dismissed DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook's request for the exco to resign from their positions if they no longer acknowledge Tuanku Muhriz as the state's ruler. In a recent interview with FMT, Mustapha stated that Loke had no right to suggest the resignation of the exco members. According to Mustapha, Loke should just be quiet and stay out of the state's royal and customs disputes.

Earlier in the day, Loke had suggested that the exco members should step down from their positions if they do not recognize Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang Dipertuan Besar (Yang di-Pertuan Agung) of Negeri Sembilan. He pointed out that they had taken their oaths of office before Tuanku Muhriz in early August.

Later on, the state exco issued a statement confirming that Tuanku Muhriz's removal in April was valid and that Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar was the new ruler of Negeri Sembilan. The exco's statement was endorsed by Negeri Sembilan's Chief Minister Ismail Lasim the same day. Ismail confirmed that the exco's decision was unanimous during their meeting on Tuesday.

He also stated that the state secretary had been instructed to proceed with gazetting the proclamation of Tuanku Muhriz's removal "according to the relevant regulations."

However, the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang Negeri Sembilan (Negeri Sembilan Justice and Law Council) declared that the exco's decision did not have any legal force. They maintained that Tuanku Muhriz was still the legitimate Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.