Exco N Sembilan tak boleh gantung tugas pegawai kanan, kata peguam

Peguam Hariz Yusoff challenged the right of the National State Council (exco) in Negeri Sembilan to suspend the duties of Zafir Ibrahim and legal adviser Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal. The lawyer argued that both individuals retained their positions as they were appointed by the Public Service Department (SPA), not the state chief or the exco.

According to Hariz, the state constitution clearly states that the appointment of these positions is managed by the SPA, not the chief minister or the exco. The Yang Di Pertuan Besar himself acknowledged this, stating that the new state administration would be appointed by the state head, and the new legal adviser would be appointed by the State Solicitor-General.

This clear acknowledgement proves that neither position is under the control of the exco. Hariz further argued that the exco's decision to suspend the appointments was invalid due to the cancellation of the appointment of 10 exco members, excluding the chief minister, by the Yang Di Pertuan Besar on Sunday. The confirmation from the chief minister that the exco positions remained valid only applies to him.

He added that the chief minister does not have the authority to declare the exco's suspension as invalid. Recently, Ismail announced the appointment of Zafir, Muzalmah, Masli Razali, and Fahmi Adilah to hold these roles temporarily. This came after the administration in Negeri Sembilan refused to continue the chief minister's request to revoke Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir's position as Yang Dipertuan Besar.

Hariz also questioned the appointment of Fahmi, stressing that a private lawyer cannot be appointed as a state adviser, even temporarily. "The position of legal adviser to the state is a constitutional position filled by the relevant public service, stated the lawyer. The lawyer urged Negeri Sembilan public servants to continue following the instructions of Zafir as state administration, while pointing out that the exco's recent decision can be challenged in court.