Peguam persoal kesahan tindakan bekas exco gantung tugas pegawai kerajaan N Sembilan

Peguam Rosli Dahlan questioned the government's decision to suspend members of the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council (Exco) after their installation on Saturday, stating that exco members did not have the power to suspend government officers and legal advisers. Tuanku Muhriz, the Yang Di Pertuan Besar, revoked the installation of the exco members after finding them guilty of violating their oath of office and loyalty pledge sworn before the King on August 7.

Rosli Dahlan argued that, under Article 38(5) of the State Government Authority Act, exco members, apart from the Chief Minister, hold office at the discretion of the Yang Di Pertuan Besar. The Chief Minister previously contested the state government's decision, claiming that the Yang Di Pertuan Besar cannot suspend the tenure of an exco member without the Chief Minister's consent or request.

Yesterday, the Chief Minister announced that the exco majority had decided to suspend Zafir Ibrahim and Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal as government officers and legal advisers, effective immediately. The suspension was carried out despite the state government claiming that the proclamation of April 19 was invalid as it did not comply with the mandatory requirements of Article 10 of the State Government Authority Act.

The State Attorney General's Office stated that its office decided not to take action against the Chief Minister's request as the proclamation dated April 19 was deemed invalid due to not complying with the mandatory requirement of Article 10 of the State Government Authority Act. The exco also argued that they did not have the legal authority to suspend government officers and legal advisers as the matters of their installation and suspension fall under the jurisdiction of the relevant federal advisory council.