SEREMBAN: Mentri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim owes an explanation to the people as to why he had signed a proclamation document on the removal of Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir on Aug 3 and later lodged a police report claiming that he was coerced into doing so.

Former mentri besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (pic) said Ismail needs to be honest in explaining why he did so and what were the circumstances that led him to subsequently claim he was coerced into signing it.

Aminuddin, who was mentri besar from 2018 to this year, said Ismail cannot take the easy way out by claiming that his government had inherited the constitutional and adat crisis from the previous state government.

“That question cannot be answered simply by blaming the previous government. Do not resort to manipulation merely to escape responsibility and personal missteps.

“There is no loss in being an honest leader. There is no shame in defending the truth,” he said in a Facebook post.

Aminuddin said when the same April 19, 2026 proclamation document was presented to him, he had chosen not to sign it because there were questions regarding its process and legitimacy.

The document was to remove Tuanku Muhriz as the state ruler and recognise Tunku Nadzarud­din Tuanku Ja’afar as his successor.

“I made the decision not to sign that document because the issue involving Tuanku Muhriz concerns the process itself.

“Was it complete? Or was it flawed from the very beginning?” he said.

Aminuddin said Article 10 of the state laws does not merely touch upon the powers concerning the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, but also stipulates the process that must be fulfilled, including issues related to a full and complete inquiry.

He said every action or decision that he made during his tenure as MB can be evaluated based on records, documents and timelines.

“So when the previous government is accused of being the root cause of this crisis, the people have a right to know exactly what alleged wrongdoing is being referred to.

“What action am I claimed to have failed to take and which ­provision of the Laws of the Constitution of Negri Sembilan 1959 was allegedly violated?

“And when exactly did this alleged violation take place?” he added.

He said then, there was also a dispute regarding the standing of one of the involved parties as the Undang of Sungei Ujong.

“In a situation where such questions existed, I took a stand based on sound legal advice that a Mentri Besar should not affix his signature to a document with such monumental implications for the Royal institution as long as the questions surrounding its ­process and legitimacy remained unclear.

“This was my stance, and Alhamdulillah, today this stance remains unchanged, and I do not qualify myself as someone who was ‘coerced’,” he said.

Aminuddin said on Sept 17 the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) took the position that the April 19 proclamation was invalid because in its view, the mandatory requirements of Article 10 were not complied with.

The AGC, he said, also emphasised that the Mentri Besar and the state exco do not have uni­lateral power to declare the office of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar vacant.

“I stand by the position of the AGC, which holds greater authority and I am prepared to take responsibility for every decision I made during my tenure as Mentri Besar.

“If any of my decisions are to be questioned, present the relevant documents, dates, and legal provisions and I will answer based on the records,” he said.