{
  "id": 9317718,
  "title": "'I follow Chief Secretary's directive, continue duties in Negri Sembilan as usual,' says Zafir",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/i-follow-chief-secretarys-directive-continue-duties-in-negri-sembilan",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T10:56:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1539471/i-follow-chief-secretarys-directive-continue-duties-negri-sembilan"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Negri Sembilan state secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim stated he will continue carrying out his duties as usual, following instructions from Chief Secretary Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar. The directive from the Chief Secretary required Zafir to remain in his role and continue serving in Negri Sembilan.\n\nThe Chief Secretary had asked Zafir to continue performing his duties as usual. As a federal civil servant stationed in Negri Sembilan, Zafir would comply with the directive. However, Zafir mentioned he had an official engagement elsewhere today.\n\nThis came after Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim recently announced a suspension of Zafir and state legal adviser Datuk Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal. Nevertheless, Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar clarified that Zafir and Muzalmah must continue their duties as usual, as Ismail's suspension decision was deemed invalid.\n\nThe Attorney-General's Chambers indicated that issues concerning their appointments and the suspension fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission and the Judicial and Legal Service Commission.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Negri Sembilan state secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim said he would continue performing his duties as usual, in accordance with the directive issued by the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.",
  "key_points": [
    "Chief Secretary's directive requires Datuk Zafir to continue duties in Negri Sembilan.",
    "Zafir had an official engagement elsewhere today, conflicting with the directive.",
    "Attorney-General's Chambers ruled Zafir and Muzalmah's suspension decision invalid."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}