Rembau Undang challenges exco authority over state constitution matters

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — Hassan Ab Hamid, the Undang of Rembau, has rejected claims that the Negeri Sembilan executive council possesses authority to supersede provisions enshrined in the state constitution. His position follows a decision by the Dewan Kesultanan Undang, Malaysia's highest state council, concerning matters related to Tuanku Muhriz. The Undang's statement reinforces the principle that executive decisions cannot circumvent constitutional frameworks established to govern state affairs. Constitutional experts have long held that executive councils operate within defined legislative boundaries set by state constitutions, which remain the supreme law at the state level. The dispute highlights the delicate balance between executive governance and constitutional limitations in Malaysia's federal structure, particularly concerning the roles of traditional institutions and administrative bodies in Negeri Sembilan. The matter carries implications for how similar constitutional questions may be resolved in other Malaysian states where comparable governance structures exist.