Several pressing questions remain unanswered in the crisis engulfing Negeri Sembilan’s royal, customary, and government institutions, with Menteri Besar Ismail Lasim at the centre of many of the unresolved issues.

Malaysian Bar president Anand Raj has sought an explanation for why Ismail (above) announced the state administration’s acceptance of an April 19 proclamation by rebel territorial chieftains to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.

Anand noted that Ismail’s predecessor, Aminuddin Harun, previously declared the proclamation invalid, while Ismail himself had claimed to be under duress when he signed a document affirming the undangs’ decision.

“If (Ismail) was coerced or signed the purported proclamation under duress, the public is entitled to know by whom, how, and why, as well as why he lodged a police report on Sept 8, some five weeks after the purported proclamation?