State stand on Tuanku Muhriz’s status as ruler, Negeri Sembilan PAS reps told

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has urged members of the PAS Negeri Sembilan assembly to express their stance on the alleged removal of Tuanku Muhriz as the ruler of Negeri Sembilan. Zaid, who joined PAS in June, emphasized that the state constitution outlines the process for such a removal, and if not followed, Tuanku Muhriz would still hold the title of Yang Dipertuan Besar.

The state constitution provides clear guidelines on how to proceed with the removal of a sitting ruler. Regardless of whether the proclamation is issued by the executive council or the chief minister, the provisions must be adhered to. Zaid highlighted that it does not matter who issues the proclamation; the process must be followed.

On April 19, the Negeri Sembilan Executive Council declared Tuanku Muhriz's removal as legitimate, thus designating Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new ruler of the state. The council, chaired by Chief Minister Ismail Lasim, unanimously decided that the April 19 proclamation, signed by Ismail, was valid and complete according to Article 10(2) of the Negeri Sembilan constitution. However, Chief Minister Ismail has challenged the validity of the document.

Rembau Undang Hassan Ab Hamid stated that the Executive Council members cannot override the provisions of the Negeri Sembilan constitution. The Dewan Keadilan and Undang had declared the proclamation invalid, and lawyer Rosli Dahlan has also questioned its legitimacy. Several Barisan Nasional Executive Council members, along with one Perikatan Nasional representative, have since reiterated the statement affirming the purported removal of Tuanku Muhriz.

Rembau Undang Hassan Ab Hamid remains the only Executive Council member to not have republished the statement, while the remaining three PAS assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan have not explicitly commented on the matter.