Lawyer disputes Ismail’s claim proclamation signed under duress

A lawyer representing four purported Negeri Sembilan chieftains has disputed menteri besar Ismail Lasim’s claim that he was forced to sign a proclamation seeking to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang Dipertuan Besar.

Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz alleged that Ismail’s claim that he signed the document under duress was a mere afterthought, Harian Metro reported.

“There was no element of coercing the menteri besar to make a decision (to sign the proclamation) that night,” he was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, Ismail said he signed the proclamation seeking to remove Tuanku Muhriz as the Negeri Sembilan ruler under duress and that he had lodged a police report on the matter.

The menteri besar rejected the validity of the document, saying it did not comply with the procedures provided for under Article 10 of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the party’s three vice-presidents met Ismail this afternoon to obtain his explanation on the matter.

On Wednesday night, four purported undangs held a press conference where they showed a document allegedly containing a proclamation to remove Tuanku Muhriz as Yang Dipertuan Besar.

The document, dated Aug 3, was said to have been signed by Ismail and the four chieftains. The chieftains claimed that Ismail signed the proclamation under Article 10(2) of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959.

The positions of the chieftains are also under dispute, with the palace insisting that three of them were not undangs at the time they announced Tuanku Muhriz’s purported removal in April.

Khairul said Ismail was also joined by his lawyer, Abu Bakar Isa Ramat, on the night of Aug 3, when the menteri besar signed the proclamation.

He added that Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar, who was proclaimed as the “new” Yang Dipertuan Besar on June 9, was also present.

Khairul said that prior to signing the proclamation, the undangs had explained their decision to remove Tuanku Muhriz as ruler and that the menteri besar’s signature on the proclamation was needed.

“After hearing the grounds for Tuanku Muhriz’s removal, Ismail agreed to sign the proclamation to remove Tuanku Muhriz, in the presence of Abu Bakar.

“We would like to state that the menteri besar acted voluntarily and without coercion in the presence of Abu Bakar, who was always with the menteri besar at all times during the event,” said the lawyer.

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