It’s ‘business as usual’ for Negeri Sembilan’s 10 state executive councillors

NEGERI Sembilan’s 10 state executive councillors continued carrying out their official duties on Tuesday despite Yang di-Pertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir revoking their appointments with immediate effect.

Sikamat assemblyman and state Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Razali Abu Samah said he reported for work as usual and continued with his official engagements.

“I came into the office as usual this morning. At noon, I have a visit and will be attending a funeral,” he said.

An aide to Gemencheh assemblyman Suhaimizan Bizar, who chairs the state Health, Unity, Information, National Integration and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee, also confirmed that he would continue carrying out his duties as an Exco member.

“Yes. The YB will come in this afternoon. He is in the constituency this morning,” the aide said.

The continued functioning of the Exco comes after Tuanku Muhriz revoked the appointments of all 10 state executive councillors on Sunday, after finding that they had breached their oaths of office.

The palace cited Article XXXVIII(5) of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959, which states that an Exco member other than the Menteri Besar holds office at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. It also said Ismail should submit a new list of Exco candidates for the ruler’s consideration and consent.

Ismail, however, has rejected the need to submit a new list, maintaining that the existing Exco members remain legally in office because he neither advised nor requested their removal.

He has argued that removing an Exco member without the Menteri Besar’s advice or request would be a legal error and unconstitutional, and that the existing line-up would continue to perform its duties.

The dispute follows the state government’s decision last week concerning a proclamation seeking to remove Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar. Ismail confirmed that all Exco members had unanimously discussed and decided on the proclamation.

The Negeri Sembilan Dewan Keadilan dan Undang has separately maintained that Tuanku Muhriz remains the lawful Yang di-Pertuan Besar and that the State Executive Council has no jurisdiction to determine the ruler’s position.

The constitutional standoff comes a day after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had an audience lasting nearly an hour with Tuanku Muhriz in Kuala Lumpur. No details of their discussion were disclosed. - September 22, 2026