Ismail’s move to seek Tuanku Muhriz’s consent raises questions over Negeri government’s position

Negeri Sembilan's Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim's request for Tuanku Muhriz's consent to convene the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) on November 26 has sparked questions regarding the government's stance in the ongoing royal dispute. This appears to be at odds with the state government's earlier decision to acknowledge Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar, despite Tuanku Muhriz remaining the recognized ruler following legal advice that the proclamation removing him was invalid.

Political commentator Liyana Marzuki questioned the government's ability to seek Tuanku Muhriz's consent when it had previously recognized the proclamation naming Tunku Nadzaruddin as his successor and communicated that stance to the Conference of Rulers. She argued that the government's recent move was inconsistent with its earlier position, especially considering its formal communication to the Conference of Rulers on the matter.

Liyana suggested that the state administration should retract the letter to resolve any ambiguity over its official position. The controversy stems from the State Executive Council's (MMKN) decision on September 15 to acknowledge the proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz and nominating Tunku Nadzaruddin as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar, which the Attorney-General's Chambers later deemed invalid due to non-compliance with the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959.

The state government did not follow through with gazetting or implementing the proclamation. This development has placed the administration in a tricky position, with questions about reconciling its initial recognition of the proclamation with its current dealings with Tuanku Muhriz. Liyana emphasized that this is a political reality that UMNO's Negeri Sembilan leadership must now address, particularly in light of the implications of its earlier decisions on the government's relationship with the royal institution.

She cautioned against prioritizing political considerations over the constitutional and customary framework governing the state's royal institution, urging that if the government has already taken the wrong path, it should not remain defiant. A central question that the state government still needs to clarify publicly is how it can seek royal consent from Tuanku Muhriz for the administration of official state business while its earlier stance on the proclamation involving his removal remains unresolved.