Negeri Sembilan’s disputed territorial chieftains and customary leaders today warned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the federal government against what they described as meddling in the state's affairs.

This was in response to advice issued by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) - which is a federal body - that invalidates Negeri Sembilan state exco's decision to accept the chieftains' disputed April 19 proclamations replacing Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir with Tunku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja'afar as the state ruler.

In a statement, the chieftains - Mubarak Thahak (Sungai Ujong), Maarof Mat Rashad (Jelebu), Muhammad Abdullah (Johol), and Abdul Rahim Yasin (Rembau) - together with the tunku besar of Tampin and Sungai Ujong’s datuk syahbandar, stressed that they are the ones who hold the authority to remove Tuanku Muhriz from the throne.

They added that state Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim and his exco team were just executing the decision they made.

"Bear in mind that we strongly condemn every effort by certain parties, whether openly or covertly, to violate our prerogatives and constitutional rights in our state.

"We wish to remind the prime minister and the AGC not to interfere in the affairs of the Negeri Sembilan government, particularly our prerogatives under Articles 10 and 11 of the Negeri Sembilan constitution, as the prime minister and the AGC have no jurisdiction to do so.

"The prime minister should not, merely for political gain and influence or in submission to pressure from certain quarters, be willing to do anything without exercising reason and conscience, and should not brazenly violate the principle of constitutional supremacy.

"He should not act beyond his authority or interfere in matters that do not concern him," the statement said.

‘Adhere to state constitution’

The chieftains pointed to Article 71 of the Federal Constitution, which stipulates that any dispute on the right to succeed as a state ruler shall be determined solely by such authority and according to the state constitution.

Any action that violates the provision would be unconstitutional, they stressed.

In their statement, they also advised Tuanku Muhriz (above) to accept that he has been removed from the throne and step down gracefully.

"We also call upon all members of the state civil service to not bow to pressure from any parties and instead abide by the state exco decision, and pledge their allegiance to Tunku Nadzaruddin as the Negeri Sembilan's 12th ruler."

On Sept 16, the state exco issued a statement declaring the proclamation removing Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar valid and recognised Tunku Nadzaruddin as the new ruler with immediate effect.

However, the AGC responded by saying the exco's decision is invalid, arguing that the menteri besar and state exco do not have unilateral powers to terminate or vacate the ruler’s office.

It stressed that the proclamation’s validity and effect must be determined through lawful constitutional and legal processes.

READ MORE: Tuanku Muhriz revokes exco appointments, but reading of state constitution disputed

Following this, state secretary Zafir Ibrahim’s office on Sept 18 said they accepted the AGC's advice and would not gazette or implement the proclamation.

Earlier today, Ismail (above) announced the suspension of Zafir and state legal adviser Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal with immediate effect.

He also named state financial officer Masri Razali as acting state secretary and lawyer Fahmi Adilah as acting state legal adviser, pending permanent replacements by the chief secretary to the federal government and the AGC, respectively.