Sungai Ujong elects new chieftain, old one refuses to budge

 

A group of traditional leaders from the Klana Hulu lineage in Sungai Ujong have appointed Faris Johari as the territory’s new undang.

This comes as Mubarak Thahak and his supporters - including the three other undang - continue to insist that he is still the chieftain of Sungai Ujong.

In a statement today, the Klana Hulu heirs and the clan matriarchs said the decision to appoint Faris (above) as the new undang was reached by consensus during a customary assembly on April 22.

Faris, a 29-year-old accountant, is the second child of Johari Meor Ngah and Klana Hulu matriarch Shazlina Abd Karim.

In announcing Faris’ appointment, the clan leaders said the process was conducted in accordance with adat (customary law), emphasising principles of justice, legality, lineage, and tradition.

“Faris is a Klana Hulu heir and a direct descendant of Petra Bador, the first undang of Sungai Ujong through the maternal lineage.

“He is also the great-grandson of Petra Ma’amor Kassim, the eighth undang of Sungai Ujong, and Abdullah Luk, the 12th undang of Jelebu,” his official profile stated.

Crisis

The clan leaders had previously moved to sack Mubarak as undang last year over unspecified transgressions - a move which was reportedly legitimised by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar this year, triggering a crisis in Negeri Sembilan’s royal institution.

The three other undang of Jelebu, Johol, and Rembau have continued to back Mubarak and disputed his removal. Together, the four chieftains are also pushing to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as state ruler.

Last week, Mubarak was ordered to vacate his official residence and cease the use of his official ceremonial hall - a decision he has yet to comply with.

This is believed to be the first incident in recent history that Sungai Ujong has had two competing undang.

The last well-recorded dispute for control over Sungai Undang was in the mid-1870s, when the undang, Syed Abdul Rahman Syed Ahmad al-Qadri, clashed with the dato bandar, Kulop Tunggal, who was gaining power through economic control over the territory.

The dispute led to Syed Rahman signing an agreement with the British and accepting a British resident adviser in exchange for military support to secure and legitimise his position.

It is one of the earliest incidents that led to British indirect rule in Malaya. - Mkini