[UPDATED] Azalina: Let Negri Sembilan Umno resolve royal proclamation issue

PUTRAJAYA: Negri Sembilan Umno and the state government should be given time and space to resolve an issue involving an alleged proclamation seeking the removal of Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

Umno information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the matter should be left to the state-level leadership to find a solution without interference from the Federal Government or Umno headquarters.

"I believe we have to give them time and space for the Negri Sembilan Umno liaison committee and the state government to come up with their solution.

"We have to give them space and time, and we have to respect what they are looking into in this matter," she said during a press conference here today.

Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has previously remained tight-lipped over the alleged proclamation seeking Tuanku Muhriz's removal.

Ismail also declined to comment on the outcome of his meeting with Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and three party vice-presidents on Thursday.

Azalina was also asked about allegations that Ismail had been forced or placed under duress to sign a document.

She said any allegation of duress or undue influence should be investigated by police.

"When there is an allegation of duress or undue influence, it is up to the police to investigate.

"We should not be passing comments because the police may have already opened a file.

"So let the police investigate what duress and undue influence mean," she said.

Azalina said the state's Umno and Barisan Nasional leadership understood their respective roles and relationships with the state administration.

The meeting between Ismail and Zahid took place at 4pm in a private room during the 2026 Umno General Assembly at the World Trade Centre (WTC) in Kuala Lumpur.

The meeting followed Zahid's earlier statement seeking clarification from Ismail over claims that the menteri besar had been forced to sign a proclamation document to depose Tuanku Muhriz at Istana Laguna Biru in Port Dickson on Aug 3.

Ismail lodged a police report on Tuesday, claiming he had been forced under duress to sign a document seeking Tuanku Muhriz's removal.

However, a lawyer representing the dismissed Undang of Negri Sembilan, the Tunku Besar Tampin and the Datuk Shahbandar claimed that Ismail had knowingly and willingly signed the proclamation.

Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz said Ismail's claim that he had signed the proclamation against his will was an afterthought.

Ismail had said the state government's position was that the document did not comply with the processes and procedures under Article 10 of the state constitution and was therefore invalid and unenforceable.