Negeri Sembilan exco can’t suspend top officials, says lawyer

Lawyer Hariz Yusoff has challenged the authority of the Negeri Sembilan executive council to suspend two state officials. The suspensions were proposed during a special executive council meeting, but Hariz contends that the meeting was invalid because the council lost its authority to appoint the state secretary and legal adviser when their appointments were revoked by the Yang Dipertuan Besar on Sunday.

According to Hariz, the state constitution and the Federal Constitution specify that the public services commission appoints those two positions, not the state executive council or the chief minister. He further argues that the proclamation announcing the removal of the Yang Dipertuan Besar's suspension authority is merely a personal opinion and cannot invalidate the order.

Ismail Lasim, the chief minister, acknowledged that future state secretaries and legal advisers would be appointed by the chief secretary and Attorney-General's Chambers, confirming that the executive council has no authority over those positions. Hariz urges civil servants to continue following the current state secretary, Zafir Ibrahim, and legal adviser, Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal, as the executive council's decision is open to legal challenge.