Exco ‘decision’ has no legal effect, says Negeri Sembilan DKU

The press statement issued by Negeri Sembilan executive council members yesterday has no legal effect and does not need to be acted on by civil servants, says the Negeri Sembilan Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU).

In a statement, the DKU maintained that Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir remained the state’s Yang Dipertuan Besar, and that it had the ultimate authority to decide on the appointment or removal of the state ruler.

This is enshrined in the Negeri Sembilan constitution, it added.

“The Sept 16 statement purportedly confirming Tuanku Muhriz’s removal and the selection of a new Yang Dipertuan Besar touches on matters outside the jurisdiction of the state exco and contradicts binding decisions made by the DKU.

“Therefore, the statement is unconstitutional, invalid and has no legal effect.

“No state government officer is required to act upon any order from the statement, or the Sept 5 proclamation by the four purported undangs,” it said.

Adding that the matter is currently before the High Court in Seremban, it urged all parties to respect the legal process.

Yesterday, members of the Negeri Sembilan executive council issued a statement affirming that Tuanku Muhriz’s removal in April was legitimate and that Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar was the new ruler of Negeri Sembilan.

The statement was republished by most of the council’s members on their social media pages, but menteri besar Ismail Lasim’s office did not confirm its validity.

Lawyer Rosli Dahlan also questioned the validity of the statement, asking if Ismail had endorsed the document.