Bar Council president Anand Raj said if ordinary citizens are constitutionally protected from unlawful removal from office without a fair hearing, a state ruler is entitled to no less protection.KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council has questioned on what basis the Negeri Sembilan state government continues to operate after the appointments of all state executive council members was revoked by the state ruler.

Bar Council president Anand Raj said the matter required clarification, given the revocation of the executive councillors' appointments by the Yang Dipertuan Besar, Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir, amid a dispute over a purported proclamation to remove him.

Anand said the proclamation on April 9, which the Attorney-General's Chambers had rejected as invalid, failed to meet a requirement under the state constitution for a full enquiry by the undangs (traditional territorial chiefs) before they can call upon the ruler to withdraw from his functions or abdicate.