The lawyer representing the four Undang, including those whose recognition is disputed, has denied claims that Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim was forced to sign a proclamation seeking the removal of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
Lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz said Ismail had first been briefed on the need to sign the document under Article 10(1)(b) of the Negeri Sembilan Constitution 1959.
He said the meeting on Aug 3 was held in a relaxed atmosphere and there was no pressure placed on the Menteri Besar.
According to him, the Undang Jelebu, Undang Johol, Undang Rembau, Tunku Besar Tampin and Dato’ Shahbandar Sungei Ujong, representing Dato’ Klana Undang Luak Sungai Ujong, arrived at Istana Laguna Biru in Port Dickson at about 8pm on Thursday for a dinner with Tunku Nazruddin Tuanku Jaafar.
Ismail arrived at about 10pm together with his lawyer, Datuk Abu Bakar Isa Ramat, before the Undang explained their decision to remove Tuanku Muhriz and briefed him on the proclamation instrument requiring his signature.
“After that, the Menteri Besar expressed his agreement to sign the proclamation, which was also witnessed by his lawyer,” Mohd Khairul said during a press conference at the Tuanku Jaafar Royal Gallery.
He suggested that another party may have subsequently pressured Ismail into claiming that he had been forced to sign the document.
“We wish to state that the Menteri Besar signed the proclamation voluntarily and without coercion, in the presence of his own lawyer.
“Therefore, his statement that he was forced to sign the proclamation is an afterthought, and nothing that happened that night indicated the existence of coercion that would have compelled him to make that decision,” he said.
Mohd Khairul also referred to Section 506 of the Penal Code, saying that criminal intimidation involves threats to a person’s life, threats of injury or threats involving the loss of property.
He said Ismail would therefore need to establish the existence of such elements if he claimed that he had been forced to sign the proclamation.
Mohd Khairul also confirmed that no other Umno leaders, including Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, attended the gathering that night.
The dispute follows earlier claims by the Undang Yang Empat, including an Undang whose recognition is disputed, that they possessed a document purportedly showing Ismail’s signature on the proclamation to remove Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar.
Ismail, however, has maintained that he was forced to sign the proclamation.
He said he had lodged a police report to enable the authorities to investigate the matter.
“I made a police report at around 6pm on Sept 8 to allow the authorities to conduct further investigations,” he said, adding that the proclamation instrument had been signed without his consent and under duress.
