Zahid nafi menghadap Tuanku Muhriz

Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister, denied receiving permission to meet with Tuanku Muhriz, the Yang Di Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, at the Istana Negeri Sembilan yesterday. Zahid stated that he and Negeri Sembilan Chief Minister Ismail Lasim did not accept an invitation to meet Tuanku Muhriz and learned of the development through media reports.

Bernama reported that several vehicles, including one carrying Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, arrived at the Istana Negeri Sembilan for the meeting amidst a dispute regarding the state's crisis. Zahid also claimed he only learned about the meeting from the media. He declined to comment further on the dispute, referring it to Ismail.

Zahid emphasized that such matters involving legal interpretation and power should be handled and resolved properly within the respective states. The development followed the announcement by the Istana Negeri Sembilan that Tuanku Muhriz had decided to dismiss 10 members of the State Legislative Assembly for violating their oath of office, following a joint statement supporting the removal of Tuanku Muhriz as Yang Di Pertuan Besar.

Ismail challenged the decision, stating that the Perlembagaan Negeri Sembilan did not allow the Yang Di Pertuan Besar to remove an exco member, except with the advice or request of the Chief Minister. The exco member in question had earlier issued a joint statement which was later deemed illegal and inadmissible by the Justice and Law Enforcement Department, confirming Tuanku Muhriz's continued status as Yang Di Pertuan Besar.