Proper Processes Exist to Remove a MB and YDPT, They Were Not Followed: Anthony Loke
Anthony Loke names the legal ways to remove an MB in Negeri Sembilan, rejects the UMNO-PN backdoor move, and defends Tuanku Muhriz as the legitimate ruler.
Anthony Loke Siew Fook is a name synonymous with principled pragmatism in Malaysian politics. As the Secretary-General of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and the federal Minister of Transport, Loke has built a reputation for being a direct leader who prioritises administrative stability and constitutional integrity. A native of Negeri Sembilan himself, his influence in the state is profound, serving not only as the Member of Parliament for Seremban but also as a key figure in building the state’s current Unity Government as DAP N9 State Chairman. When Loke speaks on the democratic process, his words carry weight.
The political crisis engulfing Negeri Sembilan on 27 April 2026 has prompted a firm response from Loke. On the afternoon of 27 April, he stood alongside Menteri Besar (MB) Aminuddin Harun at the MB’s official residence in Seremban for a joint press conference with the state Pakatan Harapan leadership. In that press conference, he addressed two distinct questions: how a Menteri Besar can legitimately be removed, and what the constitutional position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar (YDPB) is. Both answers cut to the heart of what happened today.
They deserve to be read carefully.
On Removing a Menteri Besar: There Are Rules
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Loke opened with an unequivocal rejection of the backdoor move.
“Kita tidak akan menyokong mana-mana usaha kerajaan tebuk atap. No to backdoor government. Period.”
He then named the two and only two legitimate mechanisms for replacing a Menteri Besar.
“Kedudukan Menteri Besar hanya boleh ditukar melalui dua cara. Yang pertamanya, majoriti dalam Dewan ataupun usul undi tak percaya diuruskan, maka tak ada pilihan, mesti letak jawatannya.”
The first mechanism is a majority vote or a motion of no confidence in the state assembly. If that fails, there is no choice, the Menteri Besar must resign.
“Yang kedua, iaitu perkara yang berlaku di Perak. Apabila ada kandidat yang mendapat majoriti itu, pergi jumpa dengan Tuanku. Kalau Tuanku berkenan lantik seorang Menteri Besar baru, maka kedudukan Menteri Besar yang sedia ada akan hilang jawatannya.”
The second mechanism is the Perak precedent: if someone who commands a majority goes to the Yang di-Pertuan Besar, and the ruler consents to appoint a new Menteri Besar, only then does the incumbent lose his position.
On the mandate, Loke was precise about the sequence of events.
“Kerajaan Perpaduan ini bukannya ditubuhkan selepas Pilihan Raya. Kita ada persepahaman sebelum Pilihan Raya negeri. Atas platform Kerajaan Perpaduan, PH dan BN. Jadi, itu mandat yang diberikan oleh rakyat kepada PH dan BN Kerajaan Perpaduan.”
The unity government was not formed after the election. There was an understanding before the state election. Perikatan Nasional (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) contested on the unity government platform. That was the mandate given by the people.
“Kalau ada mana-mana pihak sekarang ini menarik sokongan, bagi kita itu telah pun tidak menghormati mandat yang diberikan oleh rakyat negeri.”
If any party now withdraws support, that is not respecting the mandate given by the people of this state.
His closing was plain: “Kita tidak akan menyokong mana-mana pihak untuk menubuhkan kerajaan pintu belakang. No to backdoor government.”
On Removing the Yang di-Pertuan Besar: The Process Was Not Respected, Followed and Completed
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Loke opened Video 2 with a statement of principle.
“Yang pertamanya, kita menjunjung prinsip menghormati dan mendukung Raja Berperlembagaan. DAP memegang penuh kepada prinsip ini.”
First and foremost, DAP holds firmly to the principle of respecting and upholding the Constitutional Monarchy.
On the crisis itself and DAP’s position of non-interference:
“Apabila krisis ini berlaku, ada pertikaian di antara Yang di-Pertuan Besar dan Undang, kita tak maksud campur. Kita menghormati proses, menghormati institusi tersebut dan undang-undang adat.”
When this crisis occurred, when there is a dispute between the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and the Undang, DAP does not intend to interfere. DAP respects the process, respects the institution, and respects customary law.
But non-interference does not mean the process has no rules. Loke cited Article 10 of the Negeri Sembilan State Constitution 1959 directly.
“Dalam Perlembagaan Negeri Sembilan, Artikel 10 juga amat jelas menyatakan bahawa ia perlu melalui satu proses yang penuh, satu siasatan yang penuh. Kita tak pertikaikan kuasa Undang Yang Empat untuk menurunkan takhta Yang di-Pertuan Besar. Tetapi, dia perlu ada proses.”
The constitution is clear: there must be a complete process, a full inquiry. DAP does not dispute the power of the Undang Yang Empat to remove the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. But there must be a process.
On whether Tuanku Muhriz remains the legitimate Yang di-Pertuan Besar, Loke was unequivocal.
“Dalam konteks kita sebagai Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri, kita masih mengiktiraf Tuanku Muhriz sebagai Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan. Dan bukan sahaja kita, malah semua Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri yang hadir bersama, termasuk daripada Perikatan Nasional, mereka menerima Tuanku Muhriz masih Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan.”
As assemblymen, DAP still recognises Tuanku Muhriz as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. And not only DAP. All assemblymen who were present together, including those from Perikatan Nasional, accept that Tuanku Muhriz remains the Yang di-Pertuan Besar. This is because the Yang di-Pertuan Besar officially opened the first sitting of this assembly last Thursday.
This is significant. PN’s own assemblymen, who are now offering to form a new government with UMNO, were present at the assembly opening by Tuanku Muhriz on 23 April and accepted his legitimacy. Four days later, they are aligning with chieftains who declared him removed.
Loke closed with a warning.
“Kita tak boleh membenarkan mana-mana pihak mengaibkan, memalukan dan memperlekehkan jawatan Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan. Kedudukan Tuanku Muhriz sebagai Yang di-Pertuan Besar mesti dipertahankan sehinggalah segala proses itu berjalan dengan lengkap.”
We cannot allow any party to disgrace, humiliate or belittle the position of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. The position of Tuanku Muhriz as Yang di-Pertuan Besar must be defended until all processes have been completed properly.
What This Means
Loke’s two statements, taken together, draw a clear constitutional picture.
There is a proper process for removing a Menteri Besar. It requires either a formal confidence vote in the DUN, or a royal directive. UMNO N9 used neither. Instead, BN’s four executive councillors, including Jalaluddin Alias, requested on the evening of 22 April that the DUN sitting be postponed. The sitting that had been scheduled from 23 to 29 April, the very sitting in which a formal confidence motion could have been tabled, was adjourned. Five days later, UMNO announced its withdrawal of confidence at a press conference outside the DUN.
Aminuddin Harun made this point himself at his press conference: “If they had planned this from the start, they should have allowed the state assembly meeting to proceed. I was not the one who proposed that the assembly meeting be postponed, they did.”
There is also a proper process for removing a Yang di-Pertuan Besar. It requires a complete inquiry under Article 10 of the Negeri Sembilan State Constitution. Loke’s position, which mirrors the Menteri Besar’s position and the position of multiple constitutional law experts, is that this process was not completed before the 19 April declaration was made.
This article is based on video statements by DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke Siew Fook delivered at the official residence of Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun in Seremban on 27 April 2026, and on press conference statements by Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun reported by Free Malaysia Today on 27 April 2026.
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Sources:
FMT, “No snap polls in Negeri Sembilan for now,” 27 April 2026. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/04/27/no-snap-polls-in-negeri-sembilan-for-now
The Star, “DAP backs Aminuddin, says Loke,” 27 April 2026. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2026/04/27/dap-backs-aminuddin-says-loke
Kosmo “DAP tolak kerajaan tebuk atap,” 27 April 2026. https://www.kosmo.com.my/2026/04/27/dap-tolak-kerajaan-tebuk-atap/