Negeri Sembilan exco duo confirm receiving letter on sacking

Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim said the state ruler cannot terminate the tenure of an exco member without the advice or request of the menteri besar. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim has disputed Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir’s decision to revoke the appointments of Ismail’s 10 executive council members yesterday.In a statement citing the Negeri Sembilan constitution, Ismail said the state ruler cannot terminate the tenure of an exco member unless advised or requested by the menteri besar.“I was never consulted and never advised the termination of any Negeri Sembilan exco member.“Therefore, there is no need for me to submit a list of new exco members because the existing appointments remain valid and the exco members can continue performing their duties,” he said.Ismail said Negeri Sembilan’s system of government was based on the principles of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.He said that under the state's constitution, the ruler’s sovereign powers involving the state government must be exercised on the advice of the menteri besar and state exco.The menteri besar also said the ruler’s discretionary powers in state administration only covered matters expressly provided for under Article 40(2)."The power to unilaterally dismiss or terminate the tenure of an exco member is not provided for under this discretionary power," he said.Ismail said Article 38(5) of the state constitution, which concerns the Yang Dipertuan Besar's power to consent to the tenure of an exco member, must be read with Articles 38(4) and 40(1)."This means that any termination or change to the composition of the exco during the administration can only take effect on the advice or official request of the menteri besar."Ismail maintained that any dismissal or termination of an exco member without the menteri besar’s advice or request would be unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.Yesterday, the Negeri Sembilan palace announced that Tuanku Muhriz had decided to revoke the appointments of the 10 exco members with immediate effect.The palace said the exco members were found to have breached their oath of office and pledge of allegiance to the Yang Dipertuan Besar, which they took on Aug 7.It also said that under the state’s constitution, exco members other than the menteri besar hold office at the pleasure … Umno's Suhaimizan Bizar and PAS's Fairuz Isa were among the 10 Negeri Sembilan exco members sworn in last month.SEREMBAN: Gemencheh and Serting assemblymen Suhaimizan Bizar and Fairuz Isa have confirmed receiving a letter on the revocation of their appointments as members of the Negeri Sembilan state executive council.Suhaimizan, the state health, unity, information, national integration and NGOs chairman, said he received the letter yesterday."Yes, I received the letter yesterday, but I cannot comment further for now," he said when contacted by Bernama.Fairuz, who oversees the entrepreneurship, human resources, climate change, cooperatives and consumerism portfolios, gave the same response.Last night, Comptroller of the Royal Household of Istana Besar Seri Menanti, Azizi Mohamad Ali, said Negeri Sembilan ruler Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir had revoked the appointments of the 10 exco members with immediate effect.Azizi said the decision was made after the exco members were found to have violated their oath of office.He said that under Article XXXVIII(5) of the Negeri Sembilan constitution, an exco member other than the menteri besar holds office at the pleasure of the Yang Dipertuan Besar.The 10 exco members took their oath of office and pledge of allegiance before Tuanku Muhriz on Aug 7.