Zahid denies N. Sembilan MB resigned amid royal dispute

Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied claims that Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim resigned amid a royal institution dispute.

Ahmad Zahid refuted allegations of his presence at a meeting where Ismail allegedly signed a document to remove the Negeri Sembilan Ruler.

Ismail stated he was under duress when signing, while other Umno leaders involved also denied participation, intensifying the ongoing controversy.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied claims that Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim has submitted his resignation amid a dispute involving the state’s royal institution.

The Star reported that Ahmad Zahid rejected the claim when approached by reporters at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.

“That did not happen,” he said when asked about reports that Ismail had resigned.

Ahmad Zahid also denied being present at an alleged meeting where Ismail was purportedly made to sign a proclamation seeking the removal of Negri Sembilan Ruler Tuanku Muhriz Munawir.

“I was not there. Ismail himself has denied this,” he said.

He said lawyers who were present during the alleged signing should verify whether Ismail had signed the document under duress.

“It is better for the lawyers who were present at the signing to confirm this. We have also heard that there may be a press conference on the matter soon,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said Umno had always upheld and respected the royal institution as well as the institution of the Undang in Negeri Sembilan.

Earlier today, Ismail said he had been made to sign the document under duress following reports alleging that several Umno leaders, including Ahmad Zahid, Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dasuki and information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, were present at the meeting.

Asyraf Wajdi and Azalina have both denied involvement, while Ismail on September 6 pledged his loyalty to Tuanku Muhriz and said he remained focused on carrying out his duties for the people of Negri Sembilan.

The controversy intensified after former Undang of Jelebu Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad on Tuesday night shared copies of a document purportedly signed by Ismail concerning Tuanku Muhriz’s removal and claimed it was signed during a meeting at Istana Laguna Biru in Port Dickson on August 3.

Maarof also claimed that the ruling chiefs had appointed Tuanku Nadzaruddin Tuanku Ja’afar as the 12th Yang di-Pertuan Besar during a meeting on April 19, and urged the state secretary and administration to abide by the purported proclamation.

Maarof and former Undang of Rembau Abdul Rahim Yasin are challenging their removal as Undang, while Undang of Johol Datuk Mohammed Abdullah also attended Maarof’s press conference.

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巫统主席拿督斯里艾哈迈德扎希德哈米迪否认森美兰州务大臣拿督伊斯梅尔拉西姆因王室机构纠纷而辞职的说法。

艾哈迈德·扎希德否认了他曾出席伊斯梅尔据称签署文件罢免森美兰州统治者的会议的指控。

伊斯梅尔表示，他是在胁迫下签署的，而其他涉事巫统领导人也否认参与其中，这加剧了正在进行的争议。

吉隆坡，9月9日 - 巫统主席拿督斯里艾哈迈德扎希德哈米迪否认森美兰州务大臣拿督伊斯梅尔拉西姆在涉及州皇家机构的争端中提交辞呈的说法。

据《星报》报道，艾哈迈德·扎希德今天在吉隆坡世界贸易中心接受记者采访时否认了这一说法。

当被问及有关伊斯梅尔辞职的报道时，他说：“那件事并没有发生。”

艾哈迈德·扎希德还否认曾出席过据称迫使伊斯梅尔签署一份旨在罢免森美兰州统治者端姑慕赫里兹·穆纳维尔的公告的会议。

“我当时不在那里。伊斯梅尔本人也否认了这一点，”他说。

他表示，在所谓签字过程中在场的律师应该核实伊斯梅尔是否是在胁迫下签署了该文件。

他说：“最好由当时在场的律师来确认此事。我们也听说，近期可能会就此事召开新闻发布会。”

艾哈迈德·扎希德表示，巫统一贯维护和尊重王室制度以及森美兰州的Undang制度。

今天早些时候，伊斯梅尔表示，在有报道称包括巫统秘书长拿督阿斯拉夫·瓦吉迪·达苏基和新闻主任拿督斯里阿扎丽娜·奥斯曼·赛义德在内的几位巫统领导人出席了会议后，他是被迫签署了这份文件。

阿什拉夫·瓦吉迪和阿扎丽娜都否认参与其中，而伊斯梅尔于9月6日宣誓效忠端姑慕赫里兹，并表示他将继续专注于为森美兰州人民履行职责。

周二晚间，前日叻务省省长拿督马鲁夫·马特·拉沙德 (Datuk Maarof Mat Rashad) 分享了一份据称由伊斯梅尔 (Ismail) 签署的文件副本，内容涉及罢免端姑慕赫里兹 (Tuanku Muhriz)，并声称该文件是在 8 月 3 日于波德申的蓝海皇宫 (Istana Laguna Biru) 举行的一次会议上签署的，此事引发了更大的争议。

马鲁夫还声称，执政首领们在 4 月 19 日的一次会议上任命端姑纳扎鲁丁端姑贾法尔为第十二任最高元首，并敦促州秘书和行政部门遵守所谓的公告。

马罗夫和林堡阿都拉欣亚辛的前Undang正在挑战他们作为Undang的免职，而Johol Datuk Mohammed Abdullah的Undang也出席了Maarof的新闻发布会。

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