Replace Umno man who made religious ‘joke’, says Amanah

Amanah Deputy President Mujahid Yusof Rawa has asserted that the video of Tuanku Muhriz's rebuke of Ismail Lasim is a serious matter that Umno cannot ignore. Petaling Jaya: Umno must clarify whether it is aware or agrees with the letter sent by Negeri Sembilan's Chief Minister Ismail Lasim to the Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja regarding the position of Tuanku Muhriz.

Deputy President Mujahid claimed that the issue demonstrates a serious relationship between the palace and the state administration, stemming from a letter he said confirms the validity of an exco member's decision and that Tuanku Muhriz is no longer the Chief Minister. "The full contents of the letter must be revealed so the people know the truth.

Umno cannot simply wait and remain silent," he said in a statement. Mujahid also questioned the move to challenge Tuanku Muhriz's position, even though the Attorney General's Department has been advised that the chief minister and exco do not have the authority to remove or declare vacancies of the Chief Minister's post. He said, the state government's reluctance to enforce the proclamation is due to its perceived insufficiency and lack of institutional propriety.

Mujahid said Umno needs to explain whether it supports the exco's earlier acknowledgment of the proclamation or why Ismail is accused of changing his stance on Tuanku Muhriz. He also questioned the leadership of Umno's stance of staunchly safeguarding the royal institution of Malayo-Malay rulers when involving other parties, but remaining silent when the party's own leader is implicated in the issue.

"Ismail must immediately clarify and withdraw the letter if its contents are as claimed by Tuanku Muhriz. He must also apologize to His Majesty and request forgiveness from the people of Negeri Sembilan and all Malaysians for his mistaken attitude towards the royal institution of Malayo-Malay rulers," he said. Furthermore, Mujahid urged Umno to take strong disciplinary action against Ismail.

He said if the chief minister fails to provide a convincing explanation and restore relations with the palace, Ismail should relinquish his position. "The position of Chief Minister is not Umno's right, but a constitutional trust carried out with the approval of the Chief Minister and must be accountable to the people and the State Assembly," he said.

"Umno must now choose whether to uphold the royal institution or its own leader," he said. Several videos circulating on social media showed Tuanku Muhriz telling a group of individuals that Ismail had sent a letter to the Penyimpan Mohor Besar Raja-Raja, clarifying that he was no longer the Chief Minister. Tuanku Muhriz then questioned Ismail's intention to meet with him.