Negeri Sembilan crisis: G25 urges Ismail Lasim to step down, demands he explain duress claim

KUALA LUMPUR: G25 has called on Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim to resign, saying he has lost credibility and moral authority.

In a statement reported by Malay Mail today, the group of former senior civil servants questioned what it described as Ismail's flip-flops over the proclamation to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.

The call is G25's position. Ismail has not announced any resignation, and no response from him to the statement has been reported so far.

Three different positions

According to G25, Ismail signed the proclamation on Aug 3, a day after taking his oath of loyalty.

He later claimed he had acted under duress and lodged a police report. Yet on Sept 16, the group said, he publicly recognised the validity of the same proclamation.

The group demanded that Ismail explain who had allegedly coerced him and why he later reversed his position.

"The flip flops must be explained. The public deserves to know," the G25 statement said.

Disputed proclamation

G25 described the proclamation as unconstitutional, null and void. It cited the finding of the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang that three of the four Undang lacked valid customary standing, and that no full and complete inquiry had been conducted as required by the state constitution.

The Attorney-General's Chambers had earlier also taken the position that the proclamation was invalid.

The crisis escalated when Tuanku Muhriz revoked the appointments of the Menteri Besar and state executive council members. Ismail has since maintained that the existing state executive council remains valid and will continue to function.