Anwar denies trying to interfere in Negri Sembilan royal crisis

PENDANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has denied trying to interfere in the Negri Sembilan royal crisis.

He said he was defending the constitutional monarchy system practised in the country.

Anwar said he did not want action by the Undangs in the state to remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar too easily, as this could lead to a wider crisis for the constitutional monarchy system.

He said the Negri Sembilan laws stipulated that a change could only be made on specific grounds, including if the Yang di-Pertuan Besar became mentally incapacitated, lost his sight or speech, became disqualified under Islamic law, committed an act detrimental to the dignity of the office or deliberately disregarded the state constitution.

"That is why the Attorney-General took a firm decision that we cannot make it easy to remove a ruler.

"Imagine if this starts there. Tomorrow, the prime minister and cabinet might think they want to replace the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and write to the Malay rulers saying they do not agree with the Agong.

"That cannot be done. It is not the prime minister's power to decide to replace the Agong. The prime minister is the chief executive who administers the country and there are limits to his powers. He cannot amend the Constitution on matters concerning Islam, the Malay language, Malay special rights and the institution of the rulers," he said.

He said this when speaking at the Sebarkan Salam and Pendang Berselawat programme at Pondok Mujamma' Ibn Sunni Al-Talaqqi here last night.

Also present was Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan.

Anwar said he was prepared to take a firm position in defending the Malay rulers to ensure the constitutional monarchy continued alongside the executive branch of government.

He said he was also confident that the people, particularly Malays, as well as Chinese and Indians, would support the existing system to ensure the country's stability.

"It is not as if he has just become the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. After so many years, suddenly there is a move to remove him.

"That is the Undangs' decision, but I said, discuss it properly.

"I do not agree. You cannot simply remove a ruler. The constitutional monarchy system does not work that way.

"The ruler should not be slighted. If there is a problem or disagreement, I would seek an audience and express my views.

"You cannot remove a ruler. If a ruler can be removed so easily, the royal institution will disappear from this country," he said.

On Wednesday, Anwar described the action by Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim and the state executive council to remove Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as "rude" and "uncivilised".

Ismail had earlier confirmed that the proclamation to remove Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar was unanimously decided and endorsed by the state executive council. Reports at the time said the state executive council took that position, while the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang later reiterated that Tuanku Muhriz remained the lawful Yang di-Pertuan Besar.