Anwar rebukes those who defend royalty before polls, only to seek ruler's removal after

Shah Alam: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim critiqued individuals who claim to protect the royal institution, yet seek to remove a ruler following an election. Anwar did not single out any party or individual but raised doubts about whether these people had obtained voter support for dethroning a monarch, likely in reference to the royal disagreement in Negri Sembilan.

Prior to the election, they vowed to champion the royal institution. Post-election, the ruler was removed, he stated during his address at the Perintis Reformis Reunion Hi-Tea event. Anwar reiterated the federal government's stance of upholding the constitutional monarchy and ruler based on state constitutions and law. He emphasized that political parties determine the ruler not through voting, but by heritage, tradition, culture, the Constitution, and law.

Anwar also queried the authority of a state executive council to convene and decide on removing a ruler merely due to an election victory. The state executive council convenes to dethrone a ruler - on what grounds? Simply because you won the election? Anwar questioned the legitimacy of the state executive council's decision. During the election, did your campaign manifesto assert, "If we secure victory, we will depose the ruler?"

You did not. Thus, voters supported you to defend the monarchy, but once elected, you abandoned the ruler. Anwar emphasized that any dispute must adhere to appropriate legal procedures under state law, clarifying his willingness to not obstruct such a process but disagreeing with actions taken outside those channels. He reiterated that government machinery would be fully employed to defend the Malay ruler system.

The Negri Sembilan royal dispute centered around a proclamation aimed at removing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar. On Thursday, Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim affirmed the state executive council unanimously approved the proclamation and mandated the state secretary to initiate gazetting. However, the Attorney-General's Chambers contended that the proclamation did not conform to the state Constitution and that the menteri besar and executive council lacked unilateral authority to remove the ruler.

The Dewan Keadilan dan Undang likewise maintained that Tuanku Muhriz continued to be the lawful Yang di-Pertuan Besar.