Ahmad Zahid, Ismail Lasim Not Summoned for Audience With Tuanku Muhriz
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said neither he nor Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim had been summoned for an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, over the controversy surrounding the state’s throne.
The UMNO president said they had only learned about the matter through media reports.
“Neither the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar nor I have ever been summoned for an audience, and we only learned about it through the media,” he said when met after officiating the 2026 University Research, Innovation and Investment Summit (URIIS 2026) at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) here today.
Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was granted an audience with Tuanku Muhriz at Istana Negeri Sembilan in Changkat Persekutuan, believed to be related to the issue surrounding the state’s throne.
The meeting took place following the latest developments involving the Negeri Sembilan state administration.
However, no further details were provided on the outcome of the meeting.
Two days ago, Tuanku Muhriz revoked the appointments of the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council members with immediate effect.
According to a statement by Comptroller of the Negeri Sembilan Royal Household Datuk Azizi Mohamad Ali, the decision was made after it was determined that all the EXCO members concerned had breached their oaths of office.
However, Ismail said all 10 Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council members remained legally entitled to continue carrying out their duties and that there was no need to submit a new list of appointments.
Ismail explained that this was based on a legal interpretation of the Laws of the Constitution of Negeri Sembilan 1959 (UUTKNS 1959), particularly provisions relating to executive powers and the status of the State Executive Council.
UTUSAN