Lawyers for the four 'undangs' and Tunku Besar Tampin contended that the proclamation signed by Ismail Lasim was valid, despite the menteri besar previously claiming he was coerced and that the document was invalid.

PETALING JAYA: Lawyers acting for five Negeri Sembilan chieftains, some of whose appointments are disputed, have defended menteri besar Ismail Lasim's signing of an April 19 proclamation purporting to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as Yang Dipertuan Besar.

Responding to former Umno leader Shahril Hamdan, the lawyers said the post of menteri besar was a continuous administrative institution that differed from the individual who helmed the post.

"The menteri besar functions as an official entity in the government. The constitutional powers, duties and executive rights are tied to the post, not the individual who holds it or the political party they are from.