September 23, 2026

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AGC: Negeri Sembilan Exco Lacks Legal Authority to Suspend State Secretary and Legal Adviser

The Attorney General’s Chambers

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 – The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has stated that the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council lacks the legal authority to suspend the state secretary (SUK) and the state legal adviser from their duties.

In a statement issued today, the AGC clarified that matters regarding appointments and suspensions for both high-ranking positions fall strictly under the jurisdiction of the Public Services Commission and the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, as stipulated under Article 37 of the Negeri Sembilan State Constitution 1959.

“On the Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar’s Sept 22, 2026 media statement suspending the SUK and state legal adviser with immediate effect, this department is of the view that the Negeri Sembilan State Executive Council has no legal authority to do so,” the AGC said.

The AGC further emphasized that appointing a new state legal adviser must comply with Article 37 of the state constitution, requiring the appointment to be made by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission from among active members of the Judicial and Legal Service.

The statement follows an announcement by Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Ismail Lasim ordering the immediate suspension of State Secretary Datuk Mohd Zafir Ibrahim and State Legal Adviser Datuk Muzalmah Mustapha Kamal.

Ismail had stated that State Financial Officer Datuk Masri Razali would assume the duties of the SUK until a new appointment is made by the Chief Secretary to the Government, while advocate and solicitor Fahmi Adilah would carry out legal advisory duties until a replacement is appointed by the AGC.

NMT