Loke pans PAS info chief for 'moving N Sembilan goalposts'

 

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has hit back at PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, accusing him of shifting the goalposts in the ongoing Negeri Sembilan royal dispute.

Loke stressed the issue at hand was not whether a ruler could unilaterally revoke exco appointments, but the disloyalty of Negeri Sembilan exco members who turned their backs on ruler, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.

“If they did not recognise the position of Tuanku Muhriz, why were they willing to take the oath of loyalty after the state election to form the state government? This is an act of betrayal!

“DAP has never done such a thing. DAP will always uphold the principles of constitutional monarchy,” he said on Facebook today.

Earlier, Fadhli questioned whether Loke would accept it if exco members in other states were removed from office by the head of state without the menteri besar’s discretion.

Fadhli (above) said provisions stating that exco members serve at the pleasure of the ruler or governor should be interpreted consistently rather than only when DAP disagreed with a state government.

“If members of the state administration lose their positions due to assent being withdrawn, the question is: What will be your (Loke’s) position if one day this happens to exco members in state governments controlled by your party?” he asked.

The duo’s exchange came after 10 Negeri Sembilan exco members' appointments were revoked after they issued a statement backing the state’s disputed territorial chieftains’ proclamation to remove Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

The revocations have since been gazetted, although the chieftains have moved to challenge them.

Meanwhile, Umno, which heads the Negeri Sembilan government, has indicated that it would accept the removals and has been working towards a resolution with Tuanku Muhriz. - Mkini