DKU seeks to intervene in exco members' constitutional suit

SEREMBAN: Dewan Keadilan dan Undang Negri Sembilan (DKU) secretary Raja Norazli Raja Nordin and DKU have applied to intervene in an originating summons filed by 10 former Negri Sembilan executive council (exco) members over the interpretation of the State Constitution.

High Court Judge Roz Mawar Rozain fixed Nov 2 to hear the application and directed all parties to file their respective written submissions by Oct 30. The hearing will be conducted via Zoom at 11 am.

The court also fixed Nov 16 to hear a preliminary objection by the Negri Sembilan State Secretary and the state government, the respondents in the case, challenging the use of the originating summons to initiate the proceedings.

They contend that the matter should instead have been brought through judicial review.

The notice of preliminary objection must be filed by Oct 23, with written submissions due on Nov 10 and replies by Nov 13.

During today's proceedings, the court was informed that the 10 applicants had filed an application in the Federal Court on Oct 14 seeking a reference on questions concerning the interpretation of provisions in the Negri Sembilan State Constitution under Article 34(2).

The Federal Court has fixed a case management session via e-review on Oct 23.

The High Court judge said the intervention applications must be disposed of before the court could determine the next steps in the proceedings.

Lawyer Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, representing the 10 applicants, said he needed to obtain instructions from his clients on whether they would oppose the intervention applications.

The court also directed the applicants to file any affidavit in reply by Oct 26 should they decide to oppose the applications.

Meanwhile, lawyer Datuk Dr Cyrus Das, representing the Negri Sembilan State Secretary, said his clients had no objection to the court hearing the intervention applications first to facilitate the orderly progress of the proceedings.

The originating summons also includes a claim for damages by the plaintiffs.

On Sept 20, the Negri Sembilan palace announced that the Yang Dipertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, had revoked the appointments of the exco members with immediate effect.

The revocation of their appointments was gazetted on Sept 24, with their removal effective from Sept 20.

The gazette stated that their appointments were revoked and annulled because they violated their pledge of allegiance to Tuanku Muhriz when they agreed on Tuanku Muhriz's removal as the Yang Dipertuan Besar.