G25 demands Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim resign over sultan removal U-turn

KUALA LUMPUR, 27 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Civil society group G25 has called for Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim to resign, citing "lost credibility" after he reversed his stance on the invalidated removal of Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

In a statement today, G25 condemned the April 19 proclamation to depose Tuanku Muhriz, which the Dewan Keadilan dan Undang (DKU) ruled "unconstitutional and null and void." The ruling found that three of the four Undangs lacked valid customary standing and that no required "full and complete enquiry" under Article 10 of the State Constitution was conducted.

The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) similarly declared the proclamation invalid, stating that neither Ismail nor the state executive council had unilateral authority to remove the ruler.

G25 highlighted Ismail’s shifting positions: he signed the proclamation on August 3—just days after swearing loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz—before claiming he acted "under duress" and filing a police report. Yet on September 16, he publicly recognised the proclamation’s validity before retracting it entirely. The group demanded an explanation for the contradictions, stating: "The flip-flops must be explained. The public deserves to know."

Tuanku Muhriz revoked Ismail’s and his executive council’s appointments on September 24 after they refused to recognise his authority. G25 welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s condemnation of the state exco’s actions as "disrespectful and uncivilised," but warned that failure to uphold constitutional principles risked "a gradual collapse of law and order." The group labelled the attempted deposition "treason and sedition," urging enforcement agencies to act firmly against those involved.

The crisis deepens political instability in Negeri Sembilan, where Ismail’s credibility has collapsed following the DKU and AGC rulings. His refusal to clarify his actions has left constitutional questions unresolved, while Tuanku Muhriz’s revocation of appointments escalates the standoff. Legal observers will watch whether the Federal Court’s pending review of the DKU’s ruling provides further clarity, but immediate pressure from G25 and the prime minister suggests Ismail’s position is increasingly untenable.

Next steps depend on whether Ismail submits his resignation or if Tuanku Muhriz’s revocation triggers a fresh state executive council appointment. The Federal Court’s decision could determine the legal framework, but the broader implications for state-federal relations under Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy remain uncertain.