NGOs reaffirm support for Tuanku Muhriz amid Negeri Sembilan crisis

Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar has been urged not to interfere in the ongoing crisis in Negeri Sembilan, according to constitutional law expert Aziz Bari. The expert stated that Mokhtar is the federation’s most senior legal adviser and is obligated to present his position on the matter as the public is eager to know what is right or wrong.

The controversy began when the Attorney-General's Chambers rejected a proclamation attempting to remove Tuanku Muhriz as the ruler of Negeri Sembilan on September 17, along with a subsequent announcement by the executive committee affirming the decision. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also criticized Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim and the former executive committee members for their actions regarding the royal institution.

In a press conference, the four undangs of Negeri Sembilan, including three whose appointments are disputed, urged Anwar and the Attorney-General not to interfere in the state's affairs, asserting that Articles 10 and 11 of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959 give them exclusive powers to appoint and remove the ruler. However, Aziz Bari argued that while these provisions grant the chieftains exclusive authority, they must consider the broader community impact and the constitution's overarching principles.

He emphasized that the constitution is designed to maintain a crisis-free situation, but the current situation in Negeri Sembilan involves a conflict where a solution within the constitutional framework is deemed futile.