Zahid denies audience with Tuanku Muhriz

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Zahid Hamidi ketika berucap di majlis perasmian University Research and Innovation Investment Summit (EURES) 2026 di Kuala Lumpur hari ini.PETALING JAYA: Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Zahid Hamidi menafikan beliau mendapat perkenan untuk menghadap Yang Dipertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir di Istana Negeri Sembilan di Changkat Persekutuan semalam.Zahid berkata beliau dan Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Ismail Lasim tidak menerima titah untuk menghadap Tuanku Muhriz dan hanya mengetahui mengenai perkembangan itu menerusi laporan media.Semalam, Bernama melaporkan beberapa kenderaan, termasuk sebuah yang membawa Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim, tiba di Istana Negeri Sembilan untuk menghadap Tuanku Muhriz.Pertemuan itu berlaku di tengah-tengah pertikaian mengenai krisis di negeri itu, dengan Bernama melaporkan bahawa Zahid dan Ismail juga dijangka mendapat perkenan menghadap."Saya tak ada. Saya dan menteri besar Negeri Sembilan tidak pernah dititah untuk menghadap," kata Zahid hari ini ketika ditanya mengenai pertemuaan itu."Kami tahu hanya daripada media saja," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Majlis University Research & Innovation Investment Summit 2026.Zahid juga enggan mengulas lanjut mengenai pertikaian itu, sebaliknya menyerahkan perkara tersebut kepada Ismail. Beliau berkata perkara itu perlu diuruskan dan diselesaikan secara baik di negeri berkenaan.Katanya, soal interpretasi dalam perundangan dan juga soal kuasa bukan hanya melibatkan taksiran undang-undang, serta menegaskan institusi di Negeri Sembilan perlu dihormati tanpa mengetepikan kedudukan institusi sedia ada.Perkembangan itu susulan pengumuman Istana Negeri Sembilan bahawa Tuanku Muhriz memutuskan untuk membatalkan pelantikan 10 anggota Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri kerana melanggar sumpah jawatan mereka susulan satu kenyataan bersama yang menyokong penyingkiran baginda sebagai pemerintah negeri.Mereka mengangkat sumpah dan menandatangani ikrar taat setia pada 7 Ogos lepas.Bagaimanapun, Ismail semalam mempertikaikan keputusan itu, dengan berkata Perlembagaan Negeri Sembilan tidak membenarkan Yang Dipertuan Besar menamatkan tempoh jawatan seorang anggota exco melainkan atas nasihat atau permintaan menteri besar.Minggu lalu, exco berkenaan mengeluarkan kenyataan bersama yang didakwa mengesahkan untuk menurunkan Tuanku Muhriz sebagai Yang …

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi delivering a speech at the University Research and Innovation Investment Summit 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied being granted an audience at Istana Negeri Sembilan yesterday, saying neither he nor Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Ismail Lasim was summoned to meet Yang Dipertuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir.Bernama reported yesterday that several vehicles, including one believed to be carrying Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, arrived at Istana Negeri Sembilan in Changkat Persekutuan for an audience with Tuanku Muhriz.The reported meeting came amid a dispute over Tuanku Muhriz’s position as the state ruler, with Bernama reporting that Zahid and Ismail were also expected to be granted an audience."I wasn't there," Zahid said today when asked to comment on the meeting."The menteri besar and I were not summoned for an audience, and we only found out about it through reports in the media," he said when met by reporters after officiating the University Research and Innovation Investment Summit 2026 here.Zahid declined to comment further on the political dispute, deferring to Ismail. He said the matter should be managed and resolved amicably within the state.He also said the dispute involved complex legal interpretations concerning powers and constitutional jurisdiction, and stressed that state institutions and the royal framework in Negeri Sembilan must be respected.This follows the Negeri Sembilan palace’s announcement that Tuanku Muhriz had decided to revoke the appointments of 10 state executive councillors for violating their oath of office following a joint statement that endorsed his removal as the state ruler.The palace said the exco members were also found to have breached their pledge of allegiance to the Yang Dipertuan Besar, which they took on Aug 7.It said that under the state’s constitution, exco members other than the menteri besar hold office at the ruler's pleasure.Ismail yesterday disputed Tuanku Muhriz’s decision to revoke the appointments, saying Negeri Sembilan’s constitution does not allow the state ruler to terminate the tenure of an exco member unless advised or requested by the menteri besar.Last week, the exco released a joint statement purportedly affirming Tuanku Muhriz’s removal as Yang Dipertuan Besar.Ismail endo…