Tuanku Muhriz grants Negeri Sembilan MB audience

The Senior Minister of State for the State of Negeri Sembilan, Ismail Lasim, arrived at Istana Hinggap in Seremban around 10:50 AM on Monday. (Picture from Facebook) In Seremban, the Minister of State was seen entering the palace around 10:50 AM. Deputy Chief Minister Ismail Johari and Rembau Deputy Chief Minister Hassan Ab Hamid were also seen entering the palace.

Police chief of Negeri Sembilan, Alzafny Ahmad, was also present at the palace, reported The Star. This development came two days after Umno President Zahid Hamidi instructed Ismail to meet with Tuanku Muhriz and four Deputy Chief Ministers to find a proper solution to the crisis that has engulfed the state. At the beginning of the month, the nine exco members of Negeri Sembilan issued a statement that was said to support a proclamation to remove Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang Di Pertuan Besar.

Ismail later endorsed the statement the following day. However, the Attorney General's Department stated that the said statement was not valid because the senior minister and exco members did not have the authority to make such a proclamation. The State Government's Deputy Secretary also refused to endorse the proclamation. Tuanku Muhriz subsequently canceled the appointment of 10 exco members after they were found to have violated oath and allegiance to the state government.

Zahid, who is also the Chairman of the Barisan Nasional (BN), acknowledged the dismissal and held a meeting with all 25 BN and Perikatan Nasional MPs the following Sunday to discuss options to resolve the crisis. Following the meeting, the Leader of Umno in Negeri Sembilan, Jalaluddin Alias, said that the state government should continue to function normally while adding that Ismail has "various methods" to ensure that things can be carried out.