Quit if you no longer recognise Tuanku Muhriz as ruler, Loke tells Negeri Sembilan exco members

SEREMBAN, Sept 17 — DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook today called on Negeri Sembilan executive council members to resign if they no longer recognise Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the state’s Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

The Seremban MP questioned whether the Exco had the legal authority to make such a decision, saying the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar was governed by the state constitution and the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU), which has jurisdiction over customary matters involving the state ruler.

“An Exco decision cannot by itself override the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959 or the decisions of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang Negeri Sembilan,” he said in a statement today.

Yesterday, the state Exco announced that it regarded an April 19 proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz from the throne as valid and recognised Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar with immediate effect.

Loke said Tuanku Muhriz could not be removed from the throne without going through the process required under the state constitution.

He also pointed out that the Exco members had only taken their oaths of office before Tuanku Muhriz in early August.

“If they now no longer recognise His Royal Highness as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, then as a matter of principle and dignity, they should resign from their respective positions.”

Loke said the Exco’s announcement had caused confusion, disrupted the orderly administration of the state and undermined the dignity of the institution of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

He added that DAP remained committed to parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy, saying the rule of law and the dignity of the royal institution must be upheld.

The dispute dates back to April 19, when four individuals claiming to be Undangs announced the removal of Tuanku Muhriz, a declaration the DKU subsequently ruled had no legal effect under the Negeri Sembilan Constitution.

The DKU today reaffirmed that Tuanku Muhriz remains the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar, saying there is no vacancy or successor and that the Exco’s September 16 decision to recognise his removal has no legal effect.