Ismail confirms withdrawal of letter opposing Tuanku Muhriz

 The menteri besar also confirms the sacked executive council members’ backing for the Yang Dipertuan Besar, according to a report.

Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim was said to have met the Keeper of the Ruler’s Seal, Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, earlier this week. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim has confirmed withdrawing a letter sent to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, concerning the “removal” of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang Dipertuan Besar.

Ismail confirmed the matter to Bernama.

Malay Mail had quoted a source as saying that Ismail met Syed Danial earlier this week with a letter withdrawing objections to Tuanku Muhriz’s position as the state ruler.

The report also cited sources as saying the menteri besar is expected to seek an audience with Tuanku Muhriz to express his loyalty and seek consent for the state assembly to reconvene.

The letter was also understood to affirm the 10 sacked executive council members’ unanimous support for Tuanku Muhriz, taking into consideration the statement by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal following the 273rd meeting of the Conference of Rulers on Oct 14.

Ismail and the sacked exco members were understood to have based their decision to support Tuanku Muhriz on the Seremban High Court’s ruling on June 5 granting an ad interim injunction to preserve the status quo.

On Oct 16, Tuanku Muhriz rebuked Ismail in public, with several videos posted on social media showing the ruler telling a group of people that Ismail had written a letter to the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, informing them that he was no longer the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

Tuanku Muhriz questioned Ismail’s reason for seeking a meeting, telling him to “go away” until he retracted his earlier remarks.

Negeri Sembilan has been embroiled in a royal crisis since April, when four purported undangs, or chieftains, announced Tuanku Muhriz’s removal as the Yang Dipertuan Besar.

The same disputed undangs also purportedly proclaimed Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the “new” ruler at a five-star hotel in Melaka in June.

In September, Ismail endorsed a statement issued by his executive council that purportedly affirmed Tuanku Muhriz’s removal as the Yang Dipertuan Besar.

Tuanku Muhriz subsequently revoked the appointments of the entire executive council. - FMT