‘Suo motu’ faster way to resolving Negeri Sembilan impasse

The Negeri Sembilan constitutional crisis has reached an impasse, with the Federal Court possessing the constitutional power to resolve it through suo motu (on its own motion) orders. The royal institution (Malay rulers) and the state's executive are both barred from adjudicating constitutional disputes or misconduct. Standard legal mechanisms, such as judicial review, are unsuitable for swift resolution due to lengthy appeals and delays.

Article 34 of the state's constitution allows for constitutional questions to be referred to the Federal Court, but the mechanism is limited by the ruler's reliance on the prime minister's executive advice. Implementing a suo motu intervention would enable the Federal Court to act immediately in the interest of constitutional justice and the rule of law, bypassing slow, adversarial procedures and restoring national harmony.